=sum(above) doesn't work on blank cell

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The =SUM(ABOVE) formula in Word tables is limited. Not only does it stop at
a blank cell, it also doesn't work for more than 85 rows. To get around
this, you must use a formula in which you specify the range, such as
=SUM(A1:A25). You can get more help on use of formulas in tables, including
how to reference cells and how to format the results, by starting at
"formulas, tables" in Word's online Help.

Unfortunately, Word does not make it easy to figure out cell addresses (this
is an enhancement that's been requested for Word 10), but it does provide a
macro that helps. If you're using Word 97, the TableCellHelper macro is in
the Macros8.dot template, located in the Macros folder of Office (if you
didn't install the macros, you'll need to add them with Add/Remove
Programs). The template gives instructions for installing the macro in
Normal.dot. It helps to add it to a toolbar or the Table menu as well. When
the macro is run, it returns the address of the cell where the insertion
point is located, along with the total number of rows and columns in the
table.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft Word MVP
Words into Type
Fairhope, AL USA

Nigel <nig...@singnet.com.sg> wrote in message
news:3841D713...@singnet.com.sg...
> Hi!
>
> I'd like to use =sum(above) but I discovered
> that if one of the cell above is blank, the formulae
> doesn't work, and I have to insert zero b4 it do.
>
> Anyway to make it works w/o inserting zero?
>
> Thanks!!
>
> Nigel
>

[Nigel]

[Henk van der Zee]

Create an extra small column, and merge the 2 cells at the bottom, like this:
+-----------------+--+-------+
| item 1 | | 100 |
+-----------------+--+-------+
| item 2 | | |
+-----------------+--+-------+
| item 3 | | 200 |
+-----------------+--+-------+
| Total | 300 | <- =SUM(C:C)
+-----------------+----------+