in-cell comment

[BorisS]

I am certain there was once a way I put comments INTO cells. I am not
talking about the comment feature, but text that I can write in the line of
the cell's text, and have Excel ignore it. I am on '07 now, and think that
it used to be an "N" at the beginning of a line, but now that produces a
function. Anyone know what I'm referring to and how to accomplish it now?

 

[Gary''s Student]

Here are three ways:

1. use the N() function:
=RANDBETWEEN(1,10)+N(" hello World")
the comment is there but appears only in the formula bar, not the cell

2. concatenate the comment:
=RANDBETWEEN(1,10) & " Hello World"
the comment is now visible in the cell, but the cell is now text rather than
numeric

3. BEST put the comment in the format
Format > Cells... > Number > Custom > General" Hello World"

 

[BorisS]

would love to under more about what you mean with the third option. I was
remembering the first one, but am intrigued by what the "best" one you
suggest is, and how it works. not quite clear from the short note. plz
elaborate. Thx.

 

[Gary''s Student]

Hi Boris:

Start with a new workbook, put 1 in cell A1 and format as I indicated.

The formatting holds the comment.

I think this is best (if you don't want Inserted comments) because the
comment is alway visible on the worksheet and the underlying value is not
changed. So if you want to use cell A1 in a math formula, the formula will
work.

 

[BorisS]

Gary, thanks for clarifying. I actually will go with (1), as that is exactly
what I'm after. The 3rd shows the comment, which I don't want. My
frustration is with long formulas, and not following the logic. If I have
comments, I can decipher (or have someone else decipher) more easily, and so
put the proper reminder. Using standard cell comments means I have to
copy/paste the formula into the comment, and then match the formula to the
comment, which is frustrating. The 3rd option, while interesting and one I
would not have thought up myself, unfortunately ruins the aesthetics of the
particular worksheet I'm making.

Thanks much.