Killing Excel hidden behaviour

AlexanderBB

Well-known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
2,072
Office Version
  1. 2019
  2. 2010
Platform
  1. Windows
I'm attempting to enter data by hand into a worksheet.
I have selected cells and formatted it to text only.

When entering -7.82 dB it adds = and some other nonsense ahead of what I have typed.
And I can't remove it. Attempting to has highlighted a Cell blue and Hung me on something as R-click no longer shows menu.
Google tells me to remove the "=". But when I get back to the "-" it adds it in again. Bloody annoying !

Can I get rid of all this and just have it do what I want (e.g. display what I type in) ?

Thanks.
 

Excel Facts

Format cells as date
Select range and press Ctrl+Shift+3 to format cells as date. (Shift 3 is the # sign which sort of looks like a small calendar).
Make sure you don't have a Custom Format set for those cells ?
Also, make sure it's definitely set as Text !

AND try hitting the Esc button twice ! before reentering data
 
Upvote 0
ESC helps - get rid of the strange highlighting in cells you click in
But the problem comes back... Enter -7.82 dB and it become =F39-7.82 dB (and you need to use ESC again to get control back)
F39 happens to be the cell I click in after leaving the formula bar, but I need to exit the Formula bar to somewhere.

If there is a Custom Format set, I didn't do it and don't know how to confirrm, change or remove it.

I'm using Excel 2007. Also set calculations to Manual but no change.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Sounds like your not hitting Enter after typing -7.82 db....bit weird though !!
Sounds a restart and a major coffee shot is required !
 
Upvote 0
Ah... you hit "Enter". LOL blimey... I don't think I ever have, just click away somewhere.
Maybe a major brain shot is needed... the remainder were pasted in, then to few to hand correct (from a screen capture).

Thanks...
 
Upvote 0

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