Percentages are showing minus numbers -120%

gabsy1972

hello all,

my percentages are going int minus or over 100% . i currently use this formula , can anyone help 

 

=(TODAY() - [Start Date]5) / ([End Date]5 - [Start Date]5)

regards

 

Carl

Mike Wilday

Strange. Double check that formula. I tested it on my end and got 12% today. 

See my screenshot. 

Chris McKay

Hi Mike,

Given the 25/03/18 date in the original post, I'd say Carl is not using a US date format.

So while he is comparing a 5 day period between the 4th May and 10th May, you are calculating a 6 month period between early April and early October.

Hi Carl,

Your formula is actually doing what it is written to do. Breaking it down using the 28/04/18 date you originally posted:

=(TODAY() - [Start Date]5) / ([End Date]5 - [Start Date]5)

=(28/04/18 - 04/05/18) / (10/05/18 - 04/05/18)

which translates to:

-6 / 6 = -1 (or -100%)

Dividing a negative number (which it will be if TODAY is less than [Start Date]) by a positive number ([End Date] - [Start Date]) will always result in a negative total.

You are seeing -110% as (although the app doesn't let you calculate/access/use it), it's actually calculating a portion of a day (i.e. -6.6 / 6).

What is it you are actually trying to calculate with the above formula?

Kind regards,

Chris McKay

Mike Wilday

Good observation Chris! 

Thanks, for catching that! 

Chris McKay

All good MIke .

I'm also using the International date format which is why I spotted it.

gabsy1972

Mike and Chris,

 

thanks for your support..

basically, i trying to work out percentages between a start date to the end date. i want to percentages to stop at 100% and not go over. Also to remain at 0% if that task start date hasn't started.

i am so used to MS project auto calculating, but love smartsheet..

regards

 

Carl

 

 

 

Mike Wilday

You're welcome Carl, glad it got figured out. 

Chris McKay

OK thanks for the clarification Carl. Just throw a couple of IF statements in there to deal with the above criteria and you're away.

E.g. 

=(TODAY() - [Start Date]5) / ([End Date]5 - [Start Date]5) becomes

=IF(TODAY() < [Start Date]5, 0, IF((TODAY() - [Start Date]5) / ([End Date]5 - [Start Date]5) >1, 1, (TODAY() - [Start Date]5) / ([End Date]5 - [Start Date]5)))

Kind regards,

Chris McKay

gabsy1972

It worked it worked... i am so happy thanks again chris...