I'm using Excel 2003 Prof Ed. and am experiencing a similar problem as
described in previous posts, but can't find a solution. The formula works in
some cells but not in others. I have tried changing the format of the cell
and checking the formula, but excel does not even want to evaluate it, giving
the error mentioned in the subject above.

If I copy a cell that has a working formula (it displays the result), and
paste it, it's fine. Then when I edit the cell to change the criteria (e.g.
the range) then it suddenly stops evaluating and only displays the formula.
In fact, even if I only click on the cell and hit ENTER, it encounters the
same error.

btw. the formula is simple: =COUNTIF(B88:H97,"MT")

Please advise. Thanks.

1. make sure that you are not pasting into any cell in B88:H97
2. make sure the destination cell of the paste is not formatted as Text
--
Gary''s Student - gsnu200741


"LucyMR" wrote:

I'm using Excel 2003 Prof Ed. and am experiencing a similar problem as
described in previous posts, but can't find a solution. The formula works in
some cells but not in others. I have tried changing the format of the cell
and checking the formula, but excel does not even want to evaluate it, giving
the error mentioned in the subject above.

If I copy a cell that has a working formula (it displays the result), and
paste it, it's fine. Then when I edit the cell to change the criteria (e.g.
the range) then it suddenly stops evaluating and only displays the formula.
In fact, even if I only click on the cell and hit ENTER, it encounters the
same error.

btw. the formula is simple: =COUNTIF(B88:H97,"MT")

Please advise. Thanks.

Several possibilities.
could there be a macro running which changes the format to text?
right click on the tab and select view code
what does format cells number say after this happens?
if you go back to the original cell does it worlk correctly?


highlite the equal sign and replace it with a new equal sign.

"LucyMR" wrote:

I'm using Excel 2003 Prof Ed. and am experiencing a similar problem as
described in previous posts, but can't find a solution. The formula works in
some cells but not in others. I have tried changing the format of the cell
and checking the formula, but excel does not even want to evaluate it, giving
the error mentioned in the subject above.

If I copy a cell that has a working formula (it displays the result), and
paste it, it's fine. Then when I edit the cell to change the criteria (e.g.
the range) then it suddenly stops evaluating and only displays the formula.
In fact, even if I only click on the cell and hit ENTER, it encounters the
same error.

btw. the formula is simple: =COUNTIF(B88:H97,"MT")

Please advise. Thanks.

It sounds like you may be experiencing a problem with Excel's calculation settings. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Check your calculation settings: Go to the "Tools" menu, select "Options", then click on the "Calculation" tab. Make sure that "Automatic" is selected under "Calculation options". If it is set to "Manual", Excel will not recalculate formulas automatically, which could be causing the issue you're experiencing.
   
2. Check for circular references: If your formula refers to the cell it is in, or if there is a chain of formulas that refer to each other, Excel may not be able to evaluate the formula. Check for circular references by going to the "Tools" menu, selecting "Options", then clicking on the "Calculation" tab. Make sure that "Iterative calculation" is not selected.
   
3. Check for hidden characters: Sometimes, hidden characters can cause problems with formulas. Try copying the formula into a text editor (like Notepad) and then copying it back into Excel. This can help remove any hidden characters that may be causing the issue.
   
4. Try using a different formula: If none of the above steps work, try using a different formula to achieve the same result. For example, you could try using the SUMPRODUCT function instead of COUNTIF.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the issue you're experiencing with your formula.