Excel 2000 insists on typing a formula
 

I was sent a spreadsheet by a coworker that I want to edit. Specifically, I
want to have two date columns, and a third that calculates the number of days
between two dates. On a sheet I created from scratch, everything worked fine
(format the dates, the "# of days" column formatted as a number). In this
sheet nothing works. Every time I try to type a date, i.e. any number with a
slash, it assumes I want to type a formula and adds an = sign and then
calculates the date a 1/0/1900. It shows my most recently used formulas in
the Name Box, which my other sheet doesn't do until I hit the = key. The
problem sheet seems to want to always add the = sign. I also want to
convert a lot of dates that were entered as text into formatted dates so I
can do the calculation, but I can't get past the fact that the program
insists on creating a formula where I don't want one. I've spent hours on
the web and Microsoft trying to find an answer ...... Thanks in advance.
--
Mr.PC

Try Tools|Options|Transition tab
uncheck Transition formula entry

(You may want to uncheck all these Lotus 123 options)

Mr.PC wrote:

I was sent a spreadsheet by a coworker that I want to edit. Specifically, I
want to have two date columns, and a third that calculates the number of days
between two dates. On a sheet I created from scratch, everything worked fine
(format the dates, the "# of days" column formatted as a number). In this
sheet nothing works. Every time I try to type a date, i.e. any number with a
slash, it assumes I want to type a formula and adds an = sign and then
calculates the date a 1/0/1900. It shows my most recently used formulas in
the Name Box, which my other sheet doesn't do until I hit the = key. The
problem sheet seems to want to always add the = sign. I also want to
convert a lot of dates that were entered as text into formatted dates so I
can do the calculation, but I can't get past the fact that the program
insists on creating a formula where I don't want one. I've spent hours on
the web and Microsoft trying to find an answer ...... Thanks in advance.
--
Mr.PC

--

Dave Peterson

Mr. PC,

I think your Excel thinks it's Lotus. Try Tools - Options - Transition tab.
Uncheck "Transition formula entry."

--
Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net
-------------------------------------------

"Mr.PC" wrote in message
...
I was sent a spreadsheet by a coworker that I want to edit. Specifically,
I
want to have two date columns, and a third that calculates the number of
days
between two dates. On a sheet I created from scratch, everything worked
fine
(format the dates, the "# of days" column formatted as a number). In this
sheet nothing works. Every time I try to type a date, i.e. any number
with a
slash, it assumes I want to type a formula and adds an = sign and then
calculates the date a 1/0/1900. It shows my most recently used formulas
in
the Name Box, which my other sheet doesn't do until I hit the = key. The
problem sheet seems to want to always add the = sign. I also want to
convert a lot of dates that were entered as text into formatted dates so I
can do the calculation, but I can't get past the fact that the program
insists on creating a formula where I don't want one. I've spent hours on
the web and Microsoft trying to find an answer ...... Thanks in advance.
--
Mr.PC

Thank you both. This worked! So simple. I wish Excel Help or Microsoft's
web site had this solution (or if they do I couldn't find it). Thanks again.

"Earl Kiosterud" wrote:

Mr. PC,

I think your Excel thinks it's Lotus. Try Tools - Options - Transition tab.
Uncheck "Transition formula entry."

--
Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net
-------------------------------------------

"Mr.PC" wrote in message
...
I was sent a spreadsheet by a coworker that I want to edit. Specifically,
I
want to have two date columns, and a third that calculates the number of
days
between two dates. On a sheet I created from scratch, everything worked
fine
(format the dates, the "# of days" column formatted as a number). In this
sheet nothing works. Every time I try to type a date, i.e. any number
with a
slash, it assumes I want to type a formula and adds an = sign and then
calculates the date a 1/0/1900. It shows my most recently used formulas
in
the Name Box, which my other sheet doesn't do until I hit the = key. The
problem sheet seems to want to always add the = sign. I also want to
convert a lot of dates that were entered as text into formatted dates so I
can do the calculation, but I can't get past the fact that the program
insists on creating a formula where I don't want one. I've spent hours on
the web and Microsoft trying to find an answer ...... Thanks in advance.
--
Mr.PC

but if you could find it in help or on the web you wouldn't need us and then
what would we do :)

--
Cheers
JulieD

"Mr.PC" wrote in message
...
Thank you both. This worked! So simple. I wish Excel Help or
Microsoft's
web site had this solution (or if they do I couldn't find it). Thanks
again.

"Earl Kiosterud" wrote:

Mr. PC,

I think your Excel thinks it's Lotus. Try Tools - Options - Transition
tab.
Uncheck "Transition formula entry."

--
Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net
-------------------------------------------

"Mr.PC" wrote in message
...
I was sent a spreadsheet by a coworker that I want to edit.
Specifically,
I
want to have two date columns, and a third that calculates the number
of
days
between two dates. On a sheet I created from scratch, everything
worked
fine
(format the dates, the "# of days" column formatted as a number). In
this
sheet nothing works. Every time I try to type a date, i.e. any number
with a
slash, it assumes I want to type a formula and adds an = sign and then
calculates the date a 1/0/1900. It shows my most recently used
formulas
in
the Name Box, which my other sheet doesn't do until I hit the = key.
The
problem sheet seems to want to always add the = sign. I also want to
convert a lot of dates that were entered as text into formatted dates
so I
can do the calculation, but I can't get past the fact that the program
insists on creating a formula where I don't want one. I've spent hours
on
the web and Microsoft trying to find an answer ...... Thanks in
advance.
--
Mr.PC