KB112361 - Negative Date/Time Value Displayed as Pound Signs (###)

Article ID: 112361

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2003

Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q112361

For a Microsoft Excel 2000 and later version of this article, see 182247.
For a Microsoft Excel 98 version of this article, see 192291.

SYMPTOMS

If Microsoft Excel is set to use the 1900 date system, and you add or subtract data that is formatted with a time format, the date may not be displayed as you expect. When the results of the formula produce a negative value, and this data is formatted to display a time value, the cell displays pound signs, as in the following example:

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CAUSE

Although the formula in the cell performs the correct operation, the number format returns the wrong results.

WORKAROUND

To display the number correctly, use either of the following methods:

Change the date system to the 1904 date system.

-or-
Use the following to change the displayed result
=TEXT(ABS(A1-A2),"-h:mm:ss")
where A1 has a value smaller than A2.

The above formula will display the value as text. You may need to format the cell alignment to right justified. Note that this is not an acceptable workaround if you need to use the result in another calculation.

Additional query words: 2.00 2.01 2.10 2.10c 2.10d 2.20 3.00 4.00 4.00a 8.00 97 XL97 XL7 XL5 XL4 XL3 XL

Keywords: kbprb KB112361