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What causes = not to work?



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:17 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Amy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 412
Default What causes = not to work?

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!
  #2  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:22 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rhos
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Posts: 2
Default What causes = not to work?

Try checking your automatic calculation settings. ToolsOptionsCalculation.
Make sure Automatic is selected.

Or use F9 to calculate if you want it on manual.

Rhos


"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!

  #3  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:23 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rick Rothstein[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,013
Default What causes = not to work?

See if Tools/Options/General(tab)/Automatic(option button) is selected.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Amy" wrote in message
...
On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into
that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the
same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This
is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!


  #4  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:24 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Sheeloo
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 797
Default What causes = not to work?

This happens when the cell is formatted as TEXT... change it to GENERAL.

Press CTRL-1 to bring up the FORMAT CELLS dialog

"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!

  #5  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:26 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Mike H
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Posts: 8,419
Default What causes = not to work?

Amy,

two thoughts:-

is calculation set to manual?
Tools|Options - Calculation tab and select auto.

Are these cells formatted as text when you enter a formula?
Ensure they are formatted as 'general'

Mike

"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!

  #6  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:26 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rick Rothstein[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,013
Default What causes = not to work?

Where I wrote "General(tab)", it should have been "Calculation(tab)".

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
See if Tools/Options/General(tab)/Automatic(option button) is selected.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Amy" wrote in message
...
On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the
formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into
that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the
same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter.
(This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!



  #7  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:34 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
joeu2004
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,748
Default What causes = not to work?

"Amy" wrote:
On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
Instead it shows me the formula. i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What
causes this??? How do I avoid it?


If this happens in all cells with formulas, click Tools Options View and
be sure that Formulas is unchecked.

More likely, the individual cells that show the formula were explicitly
formatted as Text when you entered the formula. Select those cells, click
Format Cells Number and select General or any other format that you
want. Then press F2 and Enter (or ctrl-shift-Enter for array formulas).


I'm having an issue when I drag the formula to other cells that it doesn't
process unless I manually go into that cell and hit enter.


Click Tools Options Calculation and click Automatic. You probably have
Manual set.

Caveat emptor: Manual calculation might be set for good reason, notably to
avoid recalculation of cells with random expression (RAND or RANDBETWEEN).
If that's the case, you might want to retain Manual calculation mode and
simply press F9 every time you want to cause recalculation (sigh).


----- original message -----

"Amy" wrote in message
...
On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into
that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the
same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This
is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!


  #8  
Old May 14th, 2009, 07:38 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rhos
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default What causes = not to work?

Okay. the calculation being set to manual seems to the problem.

But when I change it to automatic, it reverts to manual the next time I open
Excel! Is there somewhere else that I can change this default setting?

Thanks to all!

Amy

"Mike H" wrote:

Amy,

two thoughts:-

is calculation set to manual?
Tools|Options - Calculation tab and select auto.

Are these cells formatted as text when you enter a formula?
Ensure they are formatted as 'general'

Mike

"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter. (This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!

  #9  
Old May 14th, 2009, 08:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Don Guillett
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,167
Default What causes = not to work?


Calculation is set by the method specified in the FIRST file to open

--
Don Guillett
Microsoft MVP Excel
SalesAid Software

"Rhos" wrote in message
...
Okay. the calculation being set to manual seems to the problem.

But when I change it to automatic, it reverts to manual the next time I
open
Excel! Is there somewhere else that I can change this default setting?

Thanks to all!

Amy

"Mike H" wrote:

Amy,

two thoughts:-

is calculation set to manual?
Tools|Options - Calculation tab and select auto.

Are these cells formatted as text when you enter a formula?
Ensure they are formatted as 'general'

Mike

"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the
formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go
into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the
same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter.
(This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!


  #10  
Old May 15th, 2009, 04:39 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Amy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 412
Default What causes = not to work?

If I'm opening an existing document, that's true. When I just open Excel, new
doc, it is defaulted to manual calc mode. I do this a lot because I'm pasting
data from other programs and then running a macro to create a report.

How can I set it, so that when I open Excel, it opens in automatic calc mode??

Thanks!


"Don Guillett" wrote:


Calculation is set by the method specified in the FIRST file to open

--
Don Guillett
Microsoft MVP Excel
SalesAid Software

"Rhos" wrote in message
...
Okay. the calculation being set to manual seems to the problem.

But when I change it to automatic, it reverts to manual the next time I
open
Excel! Is there somewhere else that I can change this default setting?

Thanks to all!

Amy

"Mike H" wrote:

Amy,

two thoughts:-

is calculation set to manual?
Tools|Options - Calculation tab and select auto.

Are these cells formatted as text when you enter a formula?
Ensure they are formatted as 'general'

Mike

"Amy" wrote:

On several occasions lately I've had the misfortune of my spreadsheet
refusing to treat a formula as a formula. Instead it shows me the
formula.
i.e. "=A2+A4" instead of "16". What causes this??? How do I avoid it?

Also, when the formula does work, I'm having an issue when I drag the
formula to other cells that it doesn't process unless I manually go
into that
cell and hit enter. The formula reads correctly, but the result is the
same
that was in the first cell until I click in the cell and hit enter.
(This is
not a relative/absolute reference issue)

If these ring a bell to anyone...please help!!



 




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