Getting total minutes from 2 dates (Time elapse)

[PCRIDE]

Hi, strugglin here and keep getting ################ when I simply subtract to time stamps.

They are in date format
Checked by converting to number and its a serial number

simply
3/9/2011 5:00 PM - 3/9/2011 5:31 PM *1440

Format as number or HH:MM doesn't work

Any ideas?

 

[shg]

You need to subtract the smaller from the larger

=("3/9/2011 5:31 PM" - "3/9/2011 5:00 PM") *1440

 

[PCRIDE]

Thanks, either way I still get the multiple hash marks....

 

[shg]

If you paste the exact formula I posted into a cell you get hash marks?

I get 31.

 

[PCRIDE]

Must have been the format of the cell. In a new cell it works. And I didn't have ( ) which matters.

Now when I format as number I get 1.99999999 , when I format at mm:ss I get 00:00.

Do you know why?

=(3/9/2011 11:02 - 3/9/2011 11:00)*1440

 

[shg]

The result is in decimal minutes. If you want a time returned, don't multiply by 1440.

 

[PCRIDE]

thanks for your help !