Excel 2003 problem: editing an "IF"-function turns it into text

[capnmike]

When I paste an "IF" function and then edit any of the result-"arguments",
the function then stops acting as a function and appears as text in the cell
it is supposed to operate in.
Example: I paste (in a cell):
=IF(VLOOKUP($E$3,'Paste-here'!$A$3:$AO$150,39)<>"","R2","")
Then change it to:
=IF(VLOOKUP($E$3,'Paste-here'!$A$3:$AO$150,39)<>"","FI2","")
(i.e: all I have changed is the TRUE result)
Result: this function then becomes text (instead of a function). Changing it
back to the original does not solve the problem. I have tried formating the
cell as General, Text, even Number, but nothing helps. It's as if Excell has
cast quote marks around the entire function, (but none show).

 

[Ken Wright]

Format the cell as General and THEN edit it. Just formatting it after it
has turned to text will not do the trick. Hitting F2 and then ENTER after
having formatted as General will also do the trick.

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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[capnmike]

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Ken, thanks for the tips. I'll give them a try.
Capnmike