John wrote: >Multiplying/adding a string variable by a number should be impossible
Sometimes test strings are used for null values. For example, if something is not scorable, rather than putting "0", which will throw numbers off, the entry should read "not scorable". All calculations involving that cell should silently the value of the cell. > easy way to convert from text to numerical but I think an automatic > conversion is almost certain to cause errors. Is., and has caused errors. [somebody published a paper on the number of errors in _The Human Genome Project_, because Excel turned every genome that contained an "E" into a number, and thus corrupted the data.] [Whilst that is an example of the stupidity of the people that participated in that project, it is indicative of how common the total lack of thinking about appropriate tools is.. And unfortunately, spreadsheet developers have to take into consideration the lowest common denominator (IE Thinking skill level is zub zero) ] xan jonathon -- This is our sandbox and if we want to throw sand we can
