formula returns the formula
 

i have a spreadhseet that i have imported from Quickbooks with names in Col L
and ColM. i have written this formula =if(l16=m16, "yes", "no"). when i
enter this formula it returns the forumla exactly as it is written. i have
gone to another part of the worksheet (Col au) and get the same results.
it's not that i haven't gone far enough out of the area that was imported
because when i write this formula in Col AU i get the same thing. However, i
have another if statement in Col AA and get the correct answer not a
forumla-- i have tried this formula in a new workbook and it works so there
is something in that imported worksheet.

thanks in advance for your help.
aprilshowers

formula returns the formula
 

Your cell was formatted as text before you entered the formula.
Format as General *and* re-enter the formula (F2, ENTER); just reformatting
is not enough

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"april" wrote in message
...
i have a spreadhseet that i have imported from Quickbooks with names in Col
L
and ColM. i have written this formula =if(l16=m16, "yes", "no"). when i
enter this formula it returns the forumla exactly as it is written. i
have
gone to another part of the worksheet (Col au) and get the same results.
it's not that i haven't gone far enough out of the area that was imported
because when i write this formula in Col AU i get the same thing.
However, i
have another if statement in Col AA and get the correct answer not a
forumla-- i have tried this formula in a new workbook and it works so
there
is something in that imported worksheet.

thanks in advance for your help.
aprilshowers

formula returns the formula
 

or

format as General then highlight the column and use Data/Text to Columns

"Niek Otten" wrote:

Your cell was formatted as text before you entered the formula.
Format as General *and* re-enter the formula (F2, ENTER); just reformatting
is not enough

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"april" wrote in message
...
i have a spreadhseet that i have imported from Quickbooks with names in Col
L
and ColM. i have written this formula =if(l16=m16, "yes", "no"). when i
enter this formula it returns the forumla exactly as it is written. i
have
gone to another part of the worksheet (Col au) and get the same results.
it's not that i haven't gone far enough out of the area that was imported
because when i write this formula in Col AU i get the same thing.
However, i
have another if statement in Col AA and get the correct answer not a
forumla-- i have tried this formula in a new workbook and it works so
there
is something in that imported worksheet.

thanks in advance for your help.
aprilshowers