AVERAGEA Function (OpenOffice Calc)
Learn the AVERAGEA function in Apache OpenOffice Calc: Returns the average value for a sample. Text is evaluated as zero.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in OpenOffice Calc. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer
AVERAGEA calculates the arithmetic mean while counting text as zero and logical TRUE/FALSE as 1/0; empty cells in a referenced range are not included in the denominator.
Syntax and arguments
=AVERAGEA(value1; value2; ...; value30)
value1 is a value, cell reference or range. Further values/ranges are optional, up to 30 arguments as specified in Apache’s function reference. Unlike AVERAGE, AVERAGEA includes text as zero and logical values as 1/0. Blank referenced cells are ignored.
These argument separators follow Apache’s English Calc documentation. OpenOffice version-specific statements here are supported by Apache’s 4.1 Calc Guide and per-function wiki pages; they are not claims of successful tests on a particular OpenOffice installation or proof of identical behavior in every historical version. Check application options before copying between locales or programs.
Reproducible worked example
Enter these exact inputs in a new Calc worksheet (use the specified cell addresses; a quoted word is plain cell text):
| Cell | Value |
|---|---|
| B1 | 4 |
| B2 | 2 |
| B3 | apple |
| B4 | (truly empty) |
In a separate blank cell enter:
=AVERAGEA(B1:B4)
Expected result: 2 — four plus two plus zero for apple gives six, divided by three non-empty cells. The blank B4 is ignored.
Advanced example and expected result
Compare =AVERAGE(B1:B4) (3) with =AVERAGEA(B1:B4) (2). To test logical conversion without a table, =AVERAGEA(2;TRUE()) yields 1.5.
Errors, limitations and troubleshooting
If the average falls unexpectedly, look for text placeholders such as N/A being counted as zero. Truly empty cells do not count, but an actual text value does. Error-valued cells require correction; do not assume they become zeros. If you intended to ignore text, use AVERAGE.
If a formula fails to parse, verify the function name, matching parentheses, quoted text arguments and semicolon separators. For a correct-looking but wrong result, compare a two- or three-row test range with a manual calculation first. Do not assume an error number without observing it on the installed app; individual functions above note a named error only where Apache’s documentation does.
Compatibility with other spreadsheets
AVERAGEA also exists in Excel and LibreOffice Calc, but boolean coercion and direct argument rules may differ. Do not treat the result of AVERAGEA as interchangeable with AVERAGE on mixed-type data.
Related guides
Apache documentation and verification
Documentation checked: 2026-10-11. Native Apache OpenOffice execution: not performed. Expected results above were checked by arithmetic, mathematics or direct Apache documented examples, not by a live Calc formula test. Exact application-version behaviour beyond the Apache 4.1 Guide should be confirmed on the user’s installation before relying on these cases. This file is a proposed manual-review upgrade, not a live-site update.
Validation note
The examples show expected results checked against Apache OpenOffice documentation and independent arithmetic, text mapping, or logical reasoning. They were not run in Apache OpenOffice Calc. Platform, locale, import, and unusual error cases are not certified.