I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

That's because the result of the paste special operation is a TEXT string
that *looks like a formula* but is not a formula.

Try this:

=INDIRECT(A2)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

this helps, but my end state was to be able to concatinate a cell that would
have the Date so that I could select a different file each day. I think I
looked at the indirect command but could not get it to work for my issue.

Doing a VLookup in another file and have in A1 the MMDDYY that would add
onto the name of the file I was looking for.

Good help from my original unless I am missing something

"T. Valko" wrote:

That's because the result of the paste special operation is a TEXT string
that *looks like a formula* but is not a formula.

Try this:

=INDIRECT(A2)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

You could use INDIRECT for this *BUT* the referenced file MUST be open. This
is usually a "deal breaker"!

One alternative is to download the *free* add-in Morefunc.xll from:

http://xcell05.free.fr/english/

It has a function named INDIRECT.EXT that *might* do what you want without
needing the referenced file to be open.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
this helps, but my end state was to be able to concatinate a cell that
would
have the Date so that I could select a different file each day. I think I
looked at the indirect command but could not get it to work for my issue.

Doing a VLookup in another file and have in A1 the MMDDYY that would add
onto the name of the file I was looking for.

Good help from my original unless I am missing something

"T. Valko" wrote:

That's because the result of the paste special operation is a TEXT string
that *looks like a formula* but is not a formula.

Try this:

=INDIRECT(A2)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and
past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the
cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will
not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

thanks, will look into this

"T. Valko" wrote:

You could use INDIRECT for this *BUT* the referenced file MUST be open. This
is usually a "deal breaker"!

One alternative is to download the *free* add-in Morefunc.xll from:

http://xcell05.free.fr/english/

It has a function named INDIRECT.EXT that *might* do what you want without
needing the referenced file to be open.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
this helps, but my end state was to be able to concatinate a cell that
would
have the Date so that I could select a different file each day. I think I
looked at the indirect command but could not get it to work for my issue.

Doing a VLookup in another file and have in A1 the MMDDYY that would add
onto the name of the file I was looking for.

Good help from my original unless I am missing something

"T. Valko" wrote:

That's because the result of the paste special operation is a TEXT string
that *looks like a formula* but is not a formula.

Try this:

=INDIRECT(A2)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Don" wrote in message
...
I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and
past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the
cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will
not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

On Dec 11, 9:45 pm, Don wrote:
I have concatinated two cells to create a function and I can cut and past
special the values for that function but it is not until I select the cell
contents and press enter that the function works.

example:

A1 has an equal sign
A2 has C1 where C1 has the number 12
on A3 I code =A1&A2 and it shows =C1
I can copy and past special this onto A4 and it shows =C1 but it will not
show the 12 in C1?

thanks

It doesn't work until you click the cell, then press ENTER? Sounds
like you need to go to TOOLS OPTIONS Calculation Tab, and click
AUTOMATIC radio button