Works: Incorrect Results When You Move Data in a Spreadsheet Cell

When you use a function in a Microsoft Works spreadsheet and the function contains a range of cells, and you then move the data from one cell to another cell in the range, you receive an incorrect result, as in the following example:

1. Start Works Spreadsheet.
2. Type the following data in a new spreadsheet:

      A1: 1
      A2: 2
      A3: 3
      A4: 4
      A5: 5
      A6: 6
      A7: 7
   					

3. Type the following equation in cell A8:
   =SUM(a1:a7)
   Note that the sum is 28.
4. Select cell A1.
5. On the Edit menu, click Cut.
6. Select cell A5.
7. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
8. Select cell A8.
   
   Note that the result is 14 and not 23 as expected.

This problem occurs because when you move the data in the cell, this changes the cell range that the formula uses for its calculation. In the example in the "Symptoms" section, the formula is changed from =SUM(a1:a7) to =SUM(a5:a7).

To resolve this problem, always check the formulas and the ranges that the formulas use whenever you move (drag, or cut and paste) data within a spreadsheet. If the range changes, follow these steps:

1. Click the cell that contains the formula with the range that you want to change.
2. On the Formula bar, type the correct range inside the parentheses of the function.

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