Help! MS Excel Problem

[timsk]

I'm sure what I want to do is easy enough, if only I knew how!
I have a column of cells in Excel - like one does - and I want to calculate the difference in value between the current cell and the one above it. I can do this but, where the value of the current cell is higher than the one above it, the difference is expressed as a minus value. For example:

Cell 1A has a value of 50
Cell 2A (current cell) has a value of 70
The difference is expressed as -20

I want to know the difference between cells 1A and 2A, i.e. 20, but I don't want it expressed with a minus sign in front of it.
Thanx for any help.
Tim.

 

[Pagey]

Hey Timsk

In the formula cells right click and go into format. I assume this will always be a number so change the format to number. You will be offered a choice of display for negative numbers. There's an option there to show a negative number as red without the minus sign.

Hope this helps.

Pagey

 

[peto]

I'm sure what I want to do is easy enough, if only I knew how!
I have a column of cells in Excel - like one does - and I want to calculate the difference in value between the current cell and the one above it. I can do this but, where the value of the current cell is higher than the one above it, the difference is expressed as a minus value. For example:

Cell 1A has a value of 50
Cell 2A (current cell) has a value of 70
The difference is expressed as -20

I want to know the difference between cells 1A and 2A, i.e. 20, but I don't want it expressed with a minus sign in front of it.
Thanx for any help.
Tim.

Pagey is correct but excel will continue to treat it as a negative number, if you use it for further calculations.

How about you multiply the number by itself, this will always give a +ve result. Then find the square root. eg. =SQRT((A1-A2)*(A1-A2))

 

[Charlton]

Absolutely

I'm sure what I want to do is easy enough, if only I knew how!
I have a column of cells in Excel - like one does - and I want to calculate the difference in value between the current cell and the one above it. I can do this but, where the value of the current cell is higher than the one above it, the difference is expressed as a minus value. For example:

Cell 1A has a value of 50
Cell 2A (current cell) has a value of 70
The difference is expressed as -20

I want to know the difference between cells 1A and 2A, i.e. 20, but I don't want it expressed with a minus sign in front of it.
Thanx for any help.
Tim.

Tim
Use =ABS(C1) where C1 is the cell that you want to convert. The absolute value is the value ignoring the negative sign

Charlton

 

[timsk]

This place is awesome at times - it really is. Thanks guys - problem solved.

Seeing as you've excelled yourselves (sorry, lousy pun) at this wee task, try this one for size. . .
Is there an Excel formula which will enable me to extract consistent profits from the markets day after day with little or no risk?
:cheesy:
Tim.

 

[peto]

This place is awesome at times - it really is. Thanks guys - problem solved.

Seeing as you've excelled yourselves (sorry, lousy pun) at this wee task, try this one for size. . .
Is there an Excel formula which will enable me to extract consistent profits from the markets day after day with little or no risk?
:cheesy:
Tim.

Yes, Charlton just gave it to you....tut.... at the end of the day place all your profitable and lossmaking trades into Excel, add 'em up, and apply Charlton' s formula. Positive outcome, every day.

 

[timsk]

Yes there is.
GJ

Okay, let me guess GJ - you could tell me but then you'd have to kill me, right?