How to fix an intriguing EXCEL error?

 The problem was the simplest you can imagine. What should be true naturally as shown in the first row did not happen for row 2 and that was intriguing. In fact the first row was pasted after repeatedly failed to get the simple sum if the 2nd row, a solutionI came up after spending near half hour with the Gemini agent.

 

	Apple	0	0	211.1938	211.1938
	Apple	0.00	0.00	211.1938	$0.00

Finally, Gemini threw up his arms in exasperation. I then did the simple trick of opening a new row and recreating the solution. Gemini agent said the following next:

Ah, I see exactly what you did in the picture! You essentially created a fresh start for the "Apple" data by inserting a new row, manually entering the values (or copying and pasting), and then applying the SUM formula there.

This strongly suggests that there was some form of underlying corruption or persistent issue within the original "Apple" row (row 3 in our earlier discussions) that was preventing the SUM function from working correctly, even though the data appeared to be the same.

By creating a new row and inputting the data and formula, you bypassed that problematic underlying issue. This could have been due to:

• Invisible corruption within the cells: Sometimes, Excel cells can have internal issues that aren't apparent from the displayed value or formatting.
• A persistent background calculation error: Though less likely with a simple SUM, there could have been a lingering issue with how Excel was processing that specific row.

It's a clever and practical solution! While we didn't pinpoint the exact technical reason for the original row's behavior, you found a way to get the correct result by essentially starting fresh with a new row.

Thank you so much for sharing the solution! This is a valuable insight and a good reminder that sometimes, when troubleshooting becomes overly complex, a fresh start can be the most efficient way forward. I appreciate you letting me know the outcome!

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Every possible thing was checked including setting the data type of each cell, etc. It wouldn't budge!

Do you know what the pink triangle in an Excel cell mean?

  I recently saw a feature in Excel pop-up all of a sudden and asked AI-Chat in Bing. It did not know about. I thought Microsoft is so busy embedding chatGPT that it may have overlooked how far it has embedded the AI features and its access to its own products.

Let me make it brief. I suddenly saw a magenta(some may call it pink) triangle at the corner of an Excel Cell on a page that had some calculations. I don't know for what reason, but I saw a magenta/pink triangle at the right top corner of a cell which gave me to communicate with some party as shown. It was a "prompt" to start a conversation. I just started one and replied to it as well.

I think when I closed it, Excel tried to get to my email. This is probably a feature for the team that uses this feature. 

Then I wanted to ask my newfound friend, the Bing AI-Chat to find out if he knew what this is about. He did not know either.

No big deal, Microsoft is too busy tying loose ends with the new acquisition. 

How do you work with statistics in Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel makes it ridiculously easy to work with statistics. Excel has a number of built-in functions that you can use relatively easily. These are backed up with enough documentation to use the functions.

These four steps show how:

Access Add a function using fx:

Insert function window opens as shown.

In the Insert Function window scroll down the drop-down list and choose 'Statistical'. This has a long list of functions available.

Let us take an example of the function 'Trend'

Scroll down the available function list till you get to 'Trend' as shown.

Click  the 'Help on this function' link. The web page (https://tinyurl.com/y5r94tp5) for this function opens. A part of this page's image is shown here:

If the tiny URL does not work, try this ugly link:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/trend-function-e2f135f0-8827-4096-9873-9a7cf7b51ef1?ns=excel&version=90&syslcid=1033&uilcid=1033&appver=zxl900&helpid=xlmain11.chm60098&ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

How do I chart US climate data with Excel?

You can ge the US climate data from this site.


It has data for all the states, like in this image.

USClimateData

This shows the data for Honolulu.

USClimateData_Honolulu

All you need to do is to highlight the data you want to use in Excel as shown,

Copy it.

Paste it into the first cell of an empty sheet.

Once it iss in EXCEL you can use the built-in functionality of charting data.

What is the difference between Curency and Accounting in MS Excel?

You can easily find out your self.

Here are some pictures for you to review.
I start with a Integer and decimal negative entered in an EXCEL cell as shown.

100000
-500.5

Now, I right click the cells and hit Format Cells... and choose Currency in the category and this is what I see.

ExcelCurrency.png

Now I right click the same cells and hit Format Cells... Choose Accounting from the list and click. This is what I see.

ExcelAccounting.png
If you want to add some color (color coding). You choose, the colored option while you are in Currency as shown.

ExcelCurrency2.png

I am sure you can recreate this in your Excel program.

Can I import an Excel spreadsheet to Google Spreadsheet?

Well both are spreadsheet programs but Microsoft Excel has lot more functionality than Google Doc's Spreadsheet.

You could import an Excel 2016 spreadsheet created on the desktop into Google Spreadsheet quite easily. The Google spreadsheet is an online application and you will end up with a web page displaying the spreadsheet.

Follow this Swaytorial, a tutorial created using the Microsoft's latest Office Suite application, SWAY.