It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!

It sounds like your Excel might be set to show formulas instead of the results. This can happen accidentally if you hit a certain keyboard shortcut or if someone else was using your computer and changed the settings. Here's how to fix it:

1. Select the cell(s) that are showing the formula instead of the result.
2. Look at the formula bar at the top of the Excel window. If you see the formula in the bar instead of the result, that's the problem.
3. To fix it, press the
   Formula:

   "Ctrl" 

   and
   Formula:

   "`" 

   keys at the same time. This will toggle between showing formulas and showing results.
4. If that doesn't work, go to the Formulas tab in the ribbon at the top of the Excel window.
5. Look for the Formula Auditing section and click on Show Formulas. This will toggle the display of formulas on and off.
6. If none of these steps work, it's possible that the cell is formatted incorrectly. Right-click on the cell and select Format Cells. Make sure the cell is formatted for the correct type of data (number, date, etc.).

Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jul 25, 9:02 pm, Pat Adams
wrote:
It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!

Neither worked - sorry. When I tried to re-create the problem, I seem to
have this problem only when working with templates created by others outside
of our company. I was wondering if this is peculiar to versionary
differences in Excel (we have Excel 2003) OR if there are security issues
embedded in these templates that prevents formulas from being entered/used.


"Pete_UK" wrote:

Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jul 25, 9:02 pm, Pat Adams
wrote:
It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!

Replace = with =

to force calculation, make sure the format is not text, then do editreplace
and replace equal sign with equal sign


--
Regards,

Peo Sjoblom



"Pat Adams" wrote in message
...
Neither worked - sorry. When I tried to re-create the problem, I seem to
have this problem only when working with templates created by others
outside
of our company. I was wondering if this is peculiar to versionary
differences in Excel (we have Excel 2003) OR if there are security issues
embedded in these templates that prevents formulas from being
entered/used.


"Pete_UK" wrote:

Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jul 25, 9:02 pm, Pat Adams
wrote:
It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for
numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than
straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired
result
- just can't get it in the cell!

There's a setting to make formulas visible. To turn it off, press the
Ctrl key, and the ` key (accent grave), which may be above the Tab key.

Or, choose ToolsOptions, and on the View tab, remove the check mark
from Formulas.

Pat Adams wrote:
Neither worked - sorry. When I tried to re-create the problem, I seem to
have this problem only when working with templates created by others outside
of our company. I was wondering if this is peculiar to versionary
differences in Excel (we have Excel 2003) OR if there are security issues
embedded in these templates that prevents formulas from being entered/used.


"Pete_UK" wrote:


Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jul 25, 9:02 pm, Pat Adams
wrote:

It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!





--
Debra Dalgleish
Contextures
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html