I need the sum of random cells in a row

Here is my formula, and S/S does not like it.

= [National Instructor 1 Numerator]@row + [National Instructor 2 Numerator]@row + [National Instructor 3 Numerator]@row + [National Instructor 4 Numerator]@row

Am I missing something? I copied this from another community question and she wrote back that it worked, but it's not working for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments

Mike Wilday

Do you have the same column names in your Smartsheet? Can you provide a screenshot of the spreadsheet with any sensitive data hidden?

Andrée Starå

Hi Kitty,

That formula should work if it's the exact names of the columns.

I agree with Mike, and Screenshots would help!

Can you maybe share the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Paul Newcome

In addition to the above advice...

Also check that the values in those cells are actually numerical values as opposed to text strings that just look like numbers.

How are you entering the data into those cells?

Kitty

Andree, I would be most happy to share the sheet. (I hope it doesn't fry your brain.) What I'm being asked to do seems very complicated. I greatly appreciate your offer to share the sheet and help! There is no confidential information contained in the sheet.

Kitty

The sheet has been shared and I thank you for your generous offer to help.

Kitty

Andrée Starå

Haha!

Let's hope this won't happen!

mindblown

Andrée Starå

I'll take a look and get back to you!

Kitty

Well - egg on my face.

I just checked one more time and the first instructor column does not have the number 1 in the title. I need some sleep.

Thank you for reaching out!

Kitty

Well - egg on my face.

I just checked one more time and the first instructor column does not have the number 1 in the title. I need some sleep.

Thank you for reaching out!

Kitty

Andrée Starå

Haha!

Easy to miss!

Glad you found the error!

Kitty

Paul,

The data is being entered by one of our Logistic team members through a form I created. So I'm not sure how to check values in a cell. Can you tell me how to do that?

Thank you so much for helping me. I don't think I could get all of this worked out if not for the support of a GREAT community!

Kitty

Mike,

Thank you so much. Your question prompted me to go back ONE MORE TIME to make sure the column names were correct in the formula - and you were right! I had missed something! I so appreciate your help as I continue learning this wonderful software!

Love the spirit of this Community!

Kitty

Paul Newcome

Kitty,

Based on the above comments it looks like you were able to get a working solution put into place, so checking that the values are numerical vs text shouldn't be needed.

But...

The easiest way to check is to look at where the number is within the cell. This will only work on two conditions.

1. Cell alignment is set as default so either the alignment hasn't been altered or the formatting has been erased from the cell.

2. This does not work in the Primary Column.

Basically, text is automatically left aligned and numbers are automatically right aligned.

Another way to check would be to determine exactly how the data is being entered into a cell. If someone is manually entering numbers ONLY, then they will be numerical values. Cells containing symbols would have to be formatted to automatically include those symbols for it to be considered a numerical value.

For example...

If you enter 15 or 15.00 into a cell that has been formatted to show currency, then the cell will display $15.00, but it will still be a numerical value. HOWEVER, if you manually enter the dollar sign, then it becomes a text string.

Certain formulas can generate a text string or a numerical value as well depending on the functions used.

There are quite a few different ways to put a number in a cell. The HOW is what determines text vs numerical. That is generally why I just ask how the data is being entered.

But it seems as if you have already figured out one of the most important things you could learn... When in doubt, reach out. I will certainly agree that the Community is a very valuable resource. The Community and trial/error/error/error/error/error/EUREKA!!! is how I personally have learned as much as I have.

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