Summing cells values based on IF formulas

My sheet has cells whose values are determined by the result
of an IF formula, eg

=IF(LEFT(F20,3)=I$5,$G20,0)

I want to have a total of each colum but when I insert a SUM
formula it gives a 0 result. I thought it might be something to do
with the calculation order but I don't know how to change this.

Any ideas how I can get this to work?

Thanks,
Seamus

Seamus,

Your 'LEFT(F20,3)' function is returning a text string. If you replace
it with 'VALUE(LEFT(F20,3))', the text string will be converted to a
numerical value.

If you are using Excel 2003, try the Tools\Formula Auditing\Evaluate
Formula tool to step through a formula. It often shows you which
portion of the formula is not acting like you intended.

Good luck,

Gerry


Seamus Conlon wrote:
> My sheet has cells whose values are determined by the result
> of an IF formula, eg
>
> =IF(LEFT(F20,3)=I$5,$G20,0)
>
> I want to have a total of each colum but when I insert a SUM
> formula it gives a 0 result. I thought it might be something to do
> with the calculation order but I don't know how to change this.
>
> Any ideas how I can get this to work?
>
> Thanks,
> Seamus

No luck with either suggestion.

It would probably be clearer if I gave some more detail.
In column F of rows 6 to 200 there is a list of dates in the
format 'Jan 2005' and in column G there is a list of values.
In cells J5 to T5 I have the months listed as 'Jan' 'Feb' etc.

What I want to do is for each row test which month is
given in column F and then put the value (from column G
in the same row) under the appropriate month column,
again in the same row. The formula that I gave works ok
but when I try to sum the values in an entire column I get
a result of 0.

Thanks again,
Seamus


"Haukwa" <glkehler@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:1128706133.754902.208700@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Seamus,
>
> Your 'LEFT(F20,3)' function is returning a text string. If you replace
> it with 'VALUE(LEFT(F20,3))', the text string will be converted to a
> numerical value.
>
> If you are using Excel 2003, try the Tools\Formula Auditing\Evaluate
> Formula tool to step through a formula. It often shows you which
> portion of the formula is not acting like you intended.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Gerry
>
>
> Seamus Conlon wrote:
>> My sheet has cells whose values are determined by the result
>> of an IF formula, eg
>>
>> =IF(LEFT(F20,3)=I$5,$G20,0)
>>
>> I want to have a total of each colum but when I insert a SUM
>> formula it gives a 0 result. I thought it might be something to do
>> with the calculation order but I don't know how to change this.
>>
>> Any ideas how I can get this to work?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Seamus
>