Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.

Perhaps the particular cells were inadvertently formatted as Text ?
Check & reformat as general or number, then re-confirm the formula
(Click Format Cells general/number OK)
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.

No, they were not. And even if they were, the cell formatted as text would
(normally) show only the result of the particular calculation formatted as
text; not the entire formula.

I even tried to copy-paste formats from other "working" cells, but it didn't
help. So it certainly is not about formats. Frankly speaking, I really think
it's a bug.

Thanks anyways.

Kimmo

"Max" wrote:

Perhaps the particular cells were inadvertently formatted as Text ?
Check & reformat as general or number, then re-confirm the formula
(Click Format Cells general/number OK)
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.

Maybe you has Display Formulas on. Try CTRL+~ to go back to Display Values
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email

"Kimmo Kallio" <Kimmo wrote in message
...
Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't
show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I
type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether
my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of
my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.

Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER

..the cell formatted as text would (normally) show only the result
of the particular calculation formatted as text; not the entire formula.

I'm not sure about that. Think cells which are pre-formatted as text would
exhibit behaviour very similar to what you posted (Just tried it here <g)

How about the calc mode of the book ? Is it set to Auto ?
(Click Tools Options Calculation tab Automatic OK)
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
No, they were not. And even if they were, the cell formatted as text would
(normally) show only the result of the particular calculation formatted as
text; not the entire formula.

I even tried to copy-paste formats from other "working" cells, but it didn't
help. So it certainly is not about formats. Frankly speaking, I really think
it's a bug.

Sorry to say, but: no, Display Formulas is off, as I've already pointed out
in an earlier post.

Kimmo Kallio

"Bernard Liengme" wrote:

Maybe you has Display Formulas on. Try CTRL+~ to go back to Display Values
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email

"Kimmo Kallio" <Kimmo wrote in message
...
Sometimes Excel just stops processing certain formulas on a worksheet and
considers the as plain text (regardless of the fact that the cell contents
starts with an equation sign "="). For example formula "=1+2" doesn't
show
anymore as "3" but as "=1+2", as if it's only a string of text .But if I
type
the same formula in the cell next to it, it shows the correct result "3".

Also, when I try to evaluate the formula, excel tells me that "the cell
currently being evaluated contains a constant" -- so its not about wether
my
formulas are "visible" (tools-options-view-formulas) or not. The number of
my
formulas asre always under the maximum 1024 characters.

"Max" wrote:

Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER

In fact, I'm not sure...

..the cell formatted as text would (normally) show only the result
of the particular calculation formatted as text; not the entire formula.

I'm not sure about that. Think cells which are pre-formatted as text would
exhibit behaviour very similar to what you posted (Just tried it here <g)

That's true. But it doesn't really solve my problem, since it has occured
only when editing a perfectly well working formula...

How about the calc mode of the book ? Is it set to Auto ?
(Click Tools Options Calculation tab Automatic OK)

Have to check this one out on monday when I'm back at the office...

Kimmo

"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER

In fact, I'm not sure...

The formula needs to be re-confirmed/re-entered before it'll work.
This step might have been the missing piece why it failed to fire.
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---

Thanks Max for this one, it really does fix a part of my problem: I am now
able to reformat the cell contents into a formula again.

But unfortunately the other part still remains, since this mysterious
"morphosis" from formula into plain text happens EVERY TIME I edit the
formula. So, I have to reformat the cells after every modification. And it
is, I must admit, pretty annoying.

Kimmo

"Max" wrote:

"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
Did you re-confirm* the formula after ensuring the format was ok ?
*eg: click inside the formula bar, press ENTER

In fact, I'm not sure...

The formula needs to be re-confirmed/re-entered before it'll work.
This step might have been the missing piece why it failed to fire.
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---

"Kimmo Kallio" wrote:
Thanks Max for this one, it really does fix a part of my problem: I am now
able to reformat the cell contents into a formula again.

You'e welcome !

But unfortunately the other part still remains, since this mysterious
"morphosis" from formula into plain text happens EVERY TIME I edit the
formula. So, I have to reformat the cells after every modification. And it
is, I must admit, pretty annoying.

I'm out of guesses here as to the phenomena you describe above. Hang around
awhile, perhaps others might drop by with insights for you.
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---

Thanks. The ENTER from the formula bar fixed this for me. Any idea why this comes on so suddenly and is not completely consistent?