When I enter a formula, Excel shows the formula not the results

[Guest]

It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!

 

[Pete_UK]

Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter>.

Hope this helps.

Pete

 

[Guest]

Neither worked - sorry. When I tried to re-create the problem, I seem to
have this problem only when working with templates created by others outside
of our company. I was wondering if this is peculiar to versionary
differences in Excel (we have Excel 2003) OR if there are security issues
embedded in these templates that prevents formulas from being entered/used.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Replace = with =

to force calculation, make sure the format is not text, then do edit>replace
and replace equal sign with equal sign

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

There's a setting to make formulas visible. To turn it off, press the
Ctrl key, and the ` key (accent grave), which may be above the Tab key.

Or, choose Tools>Options, and on the View tab, remove the check mark
from Formulas.