Knowledge Base

WD97: Formulas Incorrectly Calculate Times

Article ID: 196767

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q196767

SYMPTOMS

The MAX and MIN functions display incorrect results when calculating numbers in a time format. For example, if you have the following column of numbers:

0:11:30
0:08:50
0:02:01
0:12:00

the MAX function, such as

   {=MAX(above)}

returns a result of 58; the MIN function

   {=MIN(above)}

returns a result of 3.

These incorrect results also occur when you use the SUM formula, and you bookmark the times and reference the bookmark names in your formula.

CAUSE

Word interprets the colon as an operator for addition. In the above example, Word first adds 11 and 30, 8 and 50, 2 and 1, and 12 and 0. This computes to 41, 58, 3, and 12. The highest or MAX value equals 58; the lowest or MIN value equals 3. The SUM formula gives you the result of 114.

Additional query words: paste function table format time max min sum formula calculation calculate add addition

Keywords: kbbug kbfield kbpending KB196767