Simple question ?

[wmd]

I have an annoying problem with Excel that I can't solve for the life of me!

In my workbook, I currently have several sheets that have identical
formats. I use the formula "=Sheet1!A1" to copy text data from one sheet
to the next.

I currently have all ten sheets copying the text data from Sheet1. I
want to change each sheet to copy from the sheet before it... a simple
change (I thought). So, for example, in Sheet3 I ~currently~ have
"=Sheet1!A1", but I want to change it to "=Sheet2!A1", and so on.

When I make the change, however, the result doesn't appear but rather
the text of the formula. So in Sheet3, instead of copying the name from
Sheet2, it shows exactly "=Sheet2!A1".

I've fiddled with the settings in Options, with no luck. Does anyone
know what could be causing this, and what fix there is?

Thanks very much for any responses!

wmd

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

I have an annoying problem with Excel that I can't solve for the life of me!

In my workbook, I currently have several sheets that have identical
formats. I use the formula "=Sheet1!A1" to copy text data from one sheet
to the next.

I currently have all ten sheets copying the text data from Sheet1. I
want to change each sheet to copy from the sheet before it... a simple
change (I thought). So, for example, in Sheet3 I ~currently~ have
"=Sheet1!A1", but I want to change it to "=Sheet2!A1", and so on.

When I make the change, however, the result doesn't appear but rather
the text of the formula. So in Sheet3, instead of copying the name from
Sheet2, it shows exactly "=Sheet2!A1".

I've fiddled with the settings in Options, with no luck. Does anyone
know what could be causing this, and what fix there is?

Thanks very much for any responses!

wmd

I assume the quote marks you show around the formula are not in the worksheet.
If so remove them.

If the cell is formatted as TEXT before you enter the formula, you will get the
results you describe. Before changing/entering the formula, format the cell as
General.
--ron

 

[wmd]

I assume the quote marks you show around the formula are not in the worksheet.
If so remove them.

If the cell is formatted as TEXT before you enter the formula, you will get the
results you describe. Before changing/entering the formula, format the cell as
General.
--ron

Thanks for your reply. You initial assumption was correct: there were no
quote marks in the formula.

Your solution re: changing the format to "General" worked. Since the
existing formula was working with the cell format already set to "Text",
I didn't realize that the cell had to be changed back to "General"
~before~ a new formula was entered into the same cell.

Thanks again!

wmd

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

Thanks for your reply. You initial assumption was correct: there were no
quote marks in the formula.

Your solution re: changing the format to "General" worked. Since the
existing formula was working with the cell format already set to "Text",
I didn't realize that the cell had to be changed back to "General"
~before~ a new formula was entered into the same cell.

Thanks again!

wmd

You're welcome. Glad to help.
--ron