Excel considers my formulas as plain text

K

Kimmo Kallio

Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.
 
M

Max

Perhaps the particular cells were inadvertently formatted as Text ?
Check & reformat as general or number, then re-confirm the formula
(Click Format > Cells > general/number > OK)
 
K

Kimmo Kallio

No, they were not. And even if they were, the cell formatted as text would
(normally) show only the result of the particular calculation formatted as
text; not the entire formula.

I even tried to copy-paste formats from other "working" cells, but it didn't
help. So it certainly is not about formats. Frankly speaking, I really think
it's a bug.

Thanks anyways.

Kimmo
 
B

Bernard Liengme

Maybe you has Display Formulas on. Try CTRL+~ to go back to Display Values
best wishes
 
M

Max

Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER
..the cell formatted as text would (normally) show only the result
of the particular calculation formatted as text; not the entire formula.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that. Think cells which are pre-formatted as text would
exhibit behaviour very similar to what you posted (Just tried it here <g>)

How about the calc mode of the book ? Is it set to Auto ?
(Click Tools > Options > Calculation tab > Automatic > OK)
 
K

Kimmo Kallio

Sorry to say, but: no, Display Formulas is off, as I've already pointed out
in an earlier post.

Kimmo Kallio
 
K

Kimmo Kallio

Max said:
Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER
Click to expand...

In fact, I'm not sure...
I'm not sure about that. Think cells which are pre-formatted as text would
exhibit behaviour very similar to what you posted (Just tried it here <g>)
Click to expand...

That's true. But it doesn't really solve my problem, since it has occured
only when editing a perfectly well working formula...
How about the calc mode of the book ? Is it set to Auto ?
(Click Tools > Options > Calculation tab > Automatic > OK)
Click to expand...

Have to check this one out on monday when I'm back at the office...

Kimmo
 
M

Max

Kimmo Kallio said:
In fact, I'm not sure...
Click to expand...

The formula needs to be re-confirmed/re-entered before it'll work.
This step might have been the missing piece why it failed to fire.
 
K

Kimmo Kallio

Thanks Max for this one, it really does fix a part of my problem: I am now
able to reformat the cell contents into a formula again.

But unfortunately the other part still remains, since this mysterious
"morphosis" from formula into plain text happens EVERY TIME I edit the
formula. So, I have to reformat the cells after every modification. And it
is, I must admit, pretty annoying.

Kimmo
 
M

Max

Kimmo Kallio said:
Thanks Max for this one, it really does fix a part of my problem: I am now
able to reformat the cell contents into a formula again.
Click to expand...

You'e welcome !
But unfortunately the other part still remains, since this mysterious
"morphosis" from formula into plain text happens EVERY TIME I edit the
formula. So, I have to reformat the cells after every modification. And it
is, I must admit, pretty annoying.
Click to expand...

I'm out of guesses here as to the phenomena you describe above. Hang around
awhile, perhaps others might drop by with insights for you.
 
Top