what does { and } mean in an Excel formula?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

The symbols { and } appear at the start and end of a formula but disappear
when entering edit mode on the cell. Also the formula cannot be changed as
pressing enter from the edit mode causes the formula to produce a #VALUE!
error.
Can anybody help?
 
Hi Marcus

The curly braces { } in the scenario you mention are part of an array
entered formula.
To create an array formula, you commit after original entry, or after
editing the formula, with Control + Shift + Enter (CSE) as opposed to
using plain Enter.

You must not type the braces yourself, Excel will insert them when you
use CSE.
 
This signifies that the formula is an array formula - it must be
committed when typed in (or when subsequently edited) by
CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER instead of the normal ENTER. Excel will put the curly
braces around the formula when viewed in the formula bar - you must not
type these yourself.

Hope this helps.

Pete
 
Back
Top