Like Ragdyer, I had no problems w/+ when the cell was pre-formatted as text.
I can use the / key if I go to Tools/Options/Transition and delete the /
under Microsoft Excel menu or help key (or change it to something else). But
each of your users would need to do this on their machines if they don't like
'/.

Or you could disable it w/a macro when they open the workbook by putting
this code in the Thisworkbook module in the VBA editor

Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)
On Error Resume Next
Application.TransitionMenuKey = strTransitionMenuKey
End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
On Error Resume Next
With Application
strTransitionMenuKey = .TransitionMenuKey
.TransitionMenuKey = ""
End With
End Sub

and this in a regular VBA module:

Public strTransitionMenuKey As String

if you are new to macros, there are some instructions on David McRitchies
site:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm




"Bonnie" wrote:

Yes, that does seem to work (thank you) but is there no other way?? ...it
seems ridiculous that when the text formatting specifically reads "the cell
is desplayed exactly as entered." that it should do exactly that. Issue: I
have to include this apostrophe trick in the instructions for completing the
evaluation table--for all my users who are not Excel fans, and in a big hurry!

"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

Precede the entry with an apostrophe '
it will not be visible in the cell/table


--
Regards,

Peo Sjoblom



"Bonnie" wrote in message
...
I want to use + and / symbols as text (in a table to designate positive or
negative evaluation), but formatting all cells in the document as 'text'
does
not keep Excel from recognizing them as computing functions. Here is the
weird part. If I copy and paste a + or / character from a word document,
it
will work, but I can't simply type + or / into the cell. Help???