what does { and } mean in an Excel formula?

[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?

 

[Roger Govier]

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.

 

[Pete_UK]

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