Excel Automatically Changing Decimals to Text as Default

[Guest]

Whenever I enter a decimal number in a cell and try to use it in a formula, I
get an error. For example, if I have cell A1 as 15 and cell A2 as 1.1 and
use the formula =A1*A2 or even something like =A1*1.1, I get an invalid
reference message. When I perform error checking help, it tells me that the
value is the wrong data type.

So, I'm guessing Excel has somehow changed the default for decimal numbers
to text, but if I go to Format-->Cells for the cell in question, it tells me
that the format is actually a number with 1 decimal place (but the error
remains).

I can't figure out how to fix it. This is happening even after rebooting
and opening a new file.

 

[Guest]

=A1*1.1 will display
#VALUE!
if A1 has been formatted as Text
Format A1 as General and then re-enter the value

 

[Guest]

Start by selecting the cells giving your problems and setting the format to
General or a number format (yes, again, just to be sure)
Then pick an empty cell on the sheet and enter a 1 (one) into it. Select
the cell with the 1 in it and use
Edit | Copy or [Ctrl]+[C] to copy it to the clipboard
Now go choose the problem cells and use
Edit | Paste Special and choose the Multiply (or Divide) option and click [OK]

You may have to do that in the cell where you were putting your formula
also. This should force the format to numeric/general.

 

[Guest]

Hi there and thanks for the input. I should have mentioned that I had
already checked the number format. I have found the problem. A student
changed the keyboard setting to Spanish. When I changed it back to English
everything was fixed.

 

[Guest]

That's what ... a one or two letter-grade deduction on the final right? <g>

Thanks for the feedback, and glad you discovered the problem. This is
actually one that we might not have ever figured out here since there were
other people involved in it and the system is in a rather 'special'
environment --