Excel Worksheet Shows Formulas, Not Results
- Mar 25, 2009 11:00 AM EST
- [num] Comments
Q: Recently, when I download a file from COGNOS into an Excel spreadsheet, I have trouble adding formulas. When I use the Function icon to enter a formula such as VLOOKUP(), the spreadsheet displays the formula rather than the result. It acts as if it were text or had an apostrophe in front of the formula. I have checked the formatting of the cell, and for a character such as an apostrophe, but I haven't found any strange characters. Please tell me what to do to fix this problem. - Dan Cooper.
A: Don't worry, you can fix that in a flash. There's a per-worksheet Excel setting that has exactly the effect you've described. Sometimes it's even useful, say, when you need to pore over a worksheet looking for an error in a formula. To restore the normal display click the Excel 2007 "orb" at top left, click the Excel Options button, click Advanced at left, and scroll down to the section "Display options for this worksheet". Un-check the box "Show formulas in cells instead of their calculated results" and click OK. In Excel 2003 select Tools | Options from the menu, click the View tab, and un-check the box titled Formulas. Or hold Ctrl while pressing the back-quote key (`) to quickly toggle this mode on and off. - Neil J. Rubenking.