function doesn't run, just returns function

[Erisbr]

My functions are not running, ie I enter =SUM(E1,E2), and this is what
displays in the cell rather that the result. I have tried toggled the 'Show
Formulas' feature. The cell containing the formula is not a text field, but
general. I am getting no error messages, simply the formula as written rather
than the result.

What gives?

 

[Dave Peterson]

It's not enough to just change the format of the cell.

Change the format to General (or number, but not Text).
Then select the cell and hit F2, then Enter.

Excel will see that you're "changing" the formula and reevaulate.

If you have lots of these cells to fix, then
Select the range to fix
change the numberformat
and then
edit|replace
what: = (an equal sign)
with: =
replace all