= not recognised as formula (sometimes)

[Guest]

Occasionally the = sign is not recognised as indicating a formula, rather it
appears as part of a text constant i.e. typing =1+2 into a cell results in
"=1+2" (without quotes) appearing in the cell. In other cells it results in
"3" appearing as expected.

Copy and paste the "non-working" cell elsewhere and it continues to be wrong
- even if overwriting a "working" cell.

Copy and paste the "working" cell elsewhere and it continues to be ok - even
if overwriting a "non-working cell".

Any thoughts very much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Occasionally the = sign is not recognised as indicating
a formula, rather it appears as part of a text constant
i.e. typing =1+2 into a cell results in "=1+2" (without
quotes) appearing in the cell. In other cells it results
in "3" appearing as expected.

This (the text result) will happen if you put a space
before "=". Is that perhaps what you are doing?

 

[Guest]

Occasionally the = sign is not recognised as indicating
a formula, rather it appears as part of a text constant
i.e. typing =1+2 into a cell results in "=1+2" (without
quotes) appearing in the cell. In other cells it results in
"3" appearing as expected.

Previously, I mentioned that happens when you put a
space before "=". It also happens when the cell is
explicitly formatted as Text. See Format > Cell > Number.

 

[edcosoft]

Your "'non-working" cells is formated as text. When you copy it
elsewhere you're copying the formatting also so the new cell is now
formatted as text.
Copying a "working" cel into a non-working cell should correct the
problem by "overwriting" as you have discovered in your last
sentence..ed

 

[Guest]

Thanks joeu2004 - you have saved my sanity.
Some cells were set to be text.