Formula Results Not Displaying

[businessuser]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

If I insert a new column and enter a formula, for example =PROPER(A1) - when I hit ENTER the cell just displays the formula, not the result. If I enter the formula in an existing cell (instead of inserting a column), the result displays OK. What's up?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

If I insert a new column and enter a formula, for example =PROPER(A1) - when
I hit ENTER the cell just displays the formula, not the result. If I enter
the formula in an existing cell (instead of inserting a column), the result
displays OK. What's up?

You're probably inserting a column next to one formatted as Text - the
new column will pick up that formatting - so XL's parser doesn't attempt
to interpret it as a formula.

Change the number format back to General or to any other number format.