WD: Syntax Error in Formula Field That Uses Comma Separator (118516)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0b
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q118516

SYMPTOMS

When using a formula or expression field to perform a calculation of a set of numbers, you may receive the following error message
!Syntax Error, xxx,xxx
where xxx represents the numbers in the argument.

This error occurs when two or more numbers are separated by a comma without a space and the second and subsequent numbers are three or more digits. For example, the following expressions

{=sum(123,123)}
{=sum(123,123,123)}

will produce the following errors:

!Syntax Error, 123,123
!Syntax Error, 123,123,123

This behavior occurs when the formula field performs the following calculations: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and PRODUCT.

If the expression contains a series of three or more numbers, the second number is one or two digits, and each number is separated by a comma without a space, your results will be inaccurate, and you will not get a syntax error. For example, the following expression

{=sum(1,22,222,222)}

will produce the following result:

22,222,223

This behavior does not occur when you perform calculations based on table cell references or when using bookmarks.

CAUSE

When the comma is not followed by a space but is followed by three digits, Word interprets the comma as being the thousands-place separator and treats the argument as one number.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

RESOLUTION

Place a space immediately following the comma, so that your formula looks as follows:

{=SUM(123, 125)}

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfield KB118516
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.