Formulas

MrMike

Hello, I need to multiply and the divide two columns but one of them already is a formula. It's a simple sum of children which for this example is 3 and in column 1. The next number is manually entered into column 2 which is 48776. If I enter a new formula in column 3 =column2/column1 and hit enter I get invalid operation. If I manually enter the 3 without the children formula it works.

Andrée Starå

Hi Mike,

It should work!

Can you describe your process in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s) or some screenshots? That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

Paul Newcome

Try wrapping your cell reference in a VALUE function

 

=column2/VALUE(column1)

 

Depending on a few variables, SS may be storing in the background the result of your first formula as a text string as opposed to an actual number. The quickest way to tell (assuming you haven't adjusted the left/right/center alignment of the cells) is numbers are aligned to the right and text is aligned to the left.

 

In the example below... 1 and 2 can be used as is in formulas as they are stored as numbers. To reference the cells containing the 3 and 4 however, you would need to use a VALUE statement as they are stored as text.

MrMike

That worked, much appreciated.

MrMike

Thanks for the reply, Paul suggestion below worked.

Paul Newcome

Happy to help! 

Andrée Starå

Happy to help!

Great to hear you got it working!

Best,

Andrée