Formula Not Computing 1

[ESTAGroup]

I have a formula "=MID(A2,3,2)" that won't compute. It just sits in the cell. I can click on it and it shows me that it's correct. In fact all my formulas don't compute. They sit in the cell as if they were text objects. I checked my computing options and it's set to automaically compute. What could be causing this?

Thanks,

 

[Lilliabeth]

Tools, Options, View tab
Uncheck Formulas

 

[ESTAGroup]

That is already unchecked.

 

[Lilliabeth]

Are you putting quotation marks around the formulas?

 

[ESTAGroup]

No.

 

[Lilliabeth]

I'll bet the cells are formatted as text.

 

[ESTAGroup]

They are but no matter what format I make them, I still see the formula and not the result. I've been working with Excel for years and never seen this.

 

[Lilliabeth]

Format them as numbers.

Select the range.

Click in the formula bar and hit Ctrl+Enter

 

[ESTAGroup]

That fixed it. But how? What was the issue?

 

[Lilliabeth]

The cells were formatted as text before you put formulas in them.

Appearing to edit them caused them to recalculate. You could also double-click then Enter on each cell individually.

Ctrl+Enter just lets you edit multiple formulas at the same time.

 

[ESTAGroup]

Thank you very much.

 

[xlhelp]

Hi, Lilliabeth.

After all that work, you didn't even get a star. Here is one from me.

http://www.geniusmedia.ca

 

[Lilliabeth]

Thank you xlhelp!