Forum Discussion
@SUM not working
I learned Excel waaaay back. I have always typed in my formulas as @SUM and not =SUM. For some reason the @ version is not currently working. Did Microsoft phase this out? I can't find anything o...
I believe that is Lotus 1-2-3 syntax.
In Excel 2010, I can type a formula starting literally @SUM(B1:B10), and Excel changes it to =SUM(B1:B10).
And if I type =2+@SUM(B1:B10), Excel chanages it to =2+SUM(B1:B10), removing the "@".
In Excel Online (onedrive.live.com), @SUM(B1:B10) is changed to =@SUM(B1:B10).
And =2+@SUM(B1:B10) is unchanged. The "@" is not removed.
But I would be wary of typing "@" explicitly. Ironically, it now called the "implicit" (sic) operator. Do a google search for more information on the legacy (truly) implicit operation.
Nevertheless, in the two examples above, Excel Online does sum the range. If B1 is 1 and B2 is 20, the first form returns 21, and the second form returns 23. Go figure!
(Rushed! On second thought, I'm not surprised by that behavior with SUM per se, because takes a range parameter normally.)
In any case, demonstrate what you mean by "not working". Show us screenshots.
If I type =SUM at the bottom of this column of numbers, select the range, and hit enter - the sum of 36.5 is displayed
If I type @SUM at the bottom of this column of numbers (this worked previously), select the range, and hit enter - @sum( is displayed. Thought maybe it was the excel update.
I don't see a way to attach pictures, but this is what the columns look like for each:
=SUM
4
5
9
11
7.5
36.5
@SUM
4
5
9
11
7.5
@sum(
If I type @SUM at the bottom of this column of numbers (this worked previously), select the range, and hit enter - @sum( is displayed. Thought maybe it was the excel update.
I don't see a way to attach pictures, but this is what the columns look like for each:
=SUM
4
5
9
11
7.5
36.5
@SUM
4
5
9
11
7.5
@sum(
@SUM() works if you ON Lotus compatibility setting (OFF by default) here
With that you may enter @SUM(range) which automatically will be converted to =SUM(range) on Enter.
Please note, setting is applied to the specific sheet in opened file only.
- that solved it - thanx 🙂
- Thanks so much for this! I've been using @sum() since the earliest days of Lotus 1-2-3 and it is a very difficult habit to change!!
sherrema I just googled this because @sum in Excel just stopped working for me... goes back to Lotus 123 for me too. I have go admit that =sum probably makes more sense.
This solution does not work. I guess I am also ancient in age as I've ALWAYS used the @sum. It is such a habit for me that this all of a sudden not working is extremely annoying!
- Never mind - closed my sheet, re-opened, tried it and it DOES work. Thank you! (too bad it won't stick and I have to remember to do this everytime tho).
Which version of Excel are you using?
In my desktop version of Excel in Microsoft 365 for Windows, @SUM(A1:A3) is automatically converted to =SUM(A1:A3).
But in Excel Online (in the browser), @SUM is not recognized, and results in #NAME!
ironhandyman1966 wrote: ``If I type @SUM at the bottom of this column of numbers (this worked previously), select the range, and hit enter - @sum( is displayed [....]``
I don't know if that ever worked the way that you describe literally. But I'm not a fan of "shortcuts". So I'm not very familiar their behavior.
What you describe sounds like the so-called AutoSum operation, sort of. That was moved to the toolbar (ribbon) at least in Excel 2007 (2010) -- maybe even Excel 2003. I cannot remember. Before that, it might have worked as you describe. I don't remember.
