Formula changes to Text when edited

[knaimi]

Hello,

This issue happens often with me. If I type a formula in a cell, it would work. Once I change or edit the formula, it shows the formula as if I'm showing the text in the formula. For example, if I type =A1+B1 in cell C1, I would get the result of the formula, but if I change it to =B1+A1, I will get =B1+A1 in that cell. Not sure why that happens.

Please help.

knaimi

 

[Joe4]

Sounds like the FORMAT of your cell is Text.
Try changing the format of those cells to GENERAL first.
Then try editing the formula.

 

[knaimi]

It worked! Thanks Joe4.

My question is why did the format switched to Text after inputting the formula. The cell was formatted General when I started entering the formula first time, but after I clicked on enter it gave me the right answer but switched to Text. Do you know how I can prevent that from happening again?

Thanks again,

 

[Joe4]

That is not typical behavior.
If I had to guess, two possible causes could be:
- There is automated VBA running against your workbook updating things
- This file was not created in Excel, but created or converted from another system (i.e. Lotus Notes, or exported from some other program), so the settings may be a little funky and cause things like this.

If you tried it on a brand new blank workbook, I don't think you will experience this behavior. There is something about that workbook that appears to be messing with it.