Formula showing as text rather than calculating

[jkharms]

When I type a formula designated for a specific cell (e.g. C6), the text of the formula appears in the cell, rather than the numeric result. When I delete the text in the formula bar, it remains visible in the cell. If I type new text in the formula bar, the original text remains visible in C6. The only way to clear the C6 is to close the sheet and start over.

I've checked all the normal ways calculations can be hindered ("show formula", "manual calculation", etc.) and those all appear to be correct.

Side note: I'm not able to select and therefore copy C6. When I Select All on the spread sheet containing C6, one cell (not C6) appears to not have been selected. I'm not able to delete that cell, even if I move it up or down to a new position and attempt to delete the row it's in. When I delete the row it appears to be in, the cell moves to another row.

This problem exists with three separate spread sheets.

I'm using Excel 16.13.1 on MAC OS 10.13.6

 

[sandy666]

maybe change format of the cell to General or use Clear - Clear Formats and it should change format to General automatically

 

[jkharms]

Thank you...however, I've previously tried changing the format to "General" , but that didn't fix anything. I've actually run through all of the "five things most likely to interfere with calculation" and none of them have fixed the problem.

Any other thoughts as to what might be causing this?

 

[Logit]

Click on C6.

Then from the right click menu (if it is the same on a MAC as it is on a PC/Windows) select DELETE.

It should then ask you if you want to have the cells move up, left, etc. Choose one.

Now, with that specific cell eliminated, try entering the formula again.

 

[joeu2004]

I've previously tried changing the format to "General" , but that didn't fix anything.

After you change the cell format from Text to General or any numeric format, you must "re-enter" the formula. On a PC, I select the cell, press f2 (or click anywhere in the Formula Bar), then press Enter (or ctrl+shift+Enter for an array-entered formula).

PS.... The same is true if the cell contains a constant that is intended to be numeric. We must "re-enter" the constant by pressing f2, then Enter.