IF clauses with SUMPRODUCT

0

I'm having trouble understanding the following:

  1. This works:

    =SUMPRODUCT(N(A1:A10="Some text");B1:B10)

  2. This doesn't:

    =SUMPRODUCT(IF(A1:A10="Some text";1;0);B1:B10)

The N() function converts the TRUE and FALSE values the comparison operator returns to their numerical values, which is what the IF should be doing, but isn't. Tracing the calculation shows an error in the value returned by IF.

An example of my error and usage (the Office is in Portuguese, however):

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Doktoro Reichard

Posted 2014-01-12T13:00:25.343

Reputation: 4 896

Don't IF functions needs , instead of ; ? So it should be if(A1:A10="Some text",1,0) ? – Darius – 2014-01-12T13:14:29.753

Are you sure the IF is returning an error? It's returning the required value for me. @Darius, depending on regional settings, Excel uses ; or ,. – Jerry – 2014-01-12T13:15:15.053

Actually it's the A1:A10 range giving the first #VALUE! error, that then propagates to the rest of the formula. But barry's answer seems spot on, although lacking in explanation as to why this behavior happens. – Doktoro Reichard – 2014-01-12T13:50:41.707

@DoktoroReichard Could you put some values in your question that reproduced that error? I can't see to get what you're getting. – Jerry – 2014-01-12T16:27:43.913

Answers

4

In normal usage (like your first example) SUMPRODUCT doesn't need to be "array entered" but in some circumstances (like in your second example where you use an IF function) it does need "array entry"......so if you confirm the formula with CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER it will give the required results.

Note: in the specific situation shown SUMIF will be better

=SUMIF(A1:A10;"Some text";B1:B10)

barry houdini

Posted 2014-01-12T13:00:25.343

Reputation: 10 434

The only logical reason I found as to the N function working without array formulation is that it internally creates an array, which is recognized by the SUMPRODUCT, which is something IF cannot do. By the comments, it appears this is only relevant in Excel 2003. As far as reasons go, this is a very weak one (which is why I'm not posting it as an answer), but it explains the behavior. – Doktoro Reichard – 2014-07-04T21:50:47.447

Asked: 2014-01-12T13:00:25.343

Viewed: 19 605 times

Active: 2014-01-12T16:37:26.283