evaluating text as if it were a formula

[Peter Facey]

Suppose I have text in cell A3 such as "2+1/4". I want Excel 2003 to evaluate
that as a formula and put the resulting value - namely 2.25 - in another
cell. Can it do this?

I have a vague memory, perhaps of another spread sheet, that one could
say =EVAL(A3), but Excel doesn't seem to have the capability.

 

[Roger Govier]

Hi Peter

The Evaluate function is not available directly within a worksheet.
You can get around this by creating a named formula.
Insert>Name>Define> Name Eval Refers to =Evaluate($A1)

Enter your 2+1/4 in cell A1 and in B1 enter =EVAL and you will see the
result 2.25

The name doesn't have to be Eval, it can be anything.
The reference column can be any column, but be sure to use the $ sign to
make the column absolute
Then the formula =Eval entered into any column on your sheet will Evaluate
the contents of that same row in whichever you have set to be the Reference
column.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Perhaps you had a UDF in the past.

Function EvalCell(RefCell As String)
Application.Volatile
EvalCell = Evaluate(RefCell)
End Function

=EvalCell(A1) with 2+1/4 in A1 returns 2.25


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP