Quote from Amos Gikunda on February 8, 2024, 8:44 am

There could be several reasons why formulas in an Excel worksheet suddenly start displaying as text without performing calculations. Let's explore some potential causes:

1. Formula Error or Typo:

   • Ensure that there are no errors or typos in the formulas. Even a small mistake can cause Excel to treat the formula as text.

2. Cell Formatting:

   • Check the formatting of the cells. If the cells containing formulas are formatted as text, Excel may interpret the formulas as text. Adjust the cell format to General or the appropriate numeric format.

3. Preceding Apostrophe:

   • Look for a preceding apostrophe ('), which forces Excel to treat the entry as text. Remove any leading apostrophes from the formula.

4. Calculation Settings:

   • Verify that automatic calculations are enabled in Excel. If manual calculation mode is selected, formulas won't update automatically. Change it to automatic calculation mode in the Formulas tab under Calculation Options.

5. Data Type Mismatch:

   • Ensure that the data types in the formula align correctly. For instance, if a formula involves a date, make sure the cell references contain date values.

Now, let's discuss a few ways to resolve the issue:

1. Check and Correct Formulas:

   • Review and correct any errors or typos in the formulas. Pay attention to cell references and syntax.

2. Adjust Cell Formatting:

   • Change the formatting of cells containing formulas to the appropriate type (e.g., General, Number, Date) to ensure Excel recognizes them as numeric values.

3. Remove Preceding Apostrophe:

   • If there is a leading apostrophe in the cell, delete it to allow Excel to interpret the content as a formula.

4. Enable Automatic Calculation:

   • Set Excel to automatic calculation mode. Navigate to the Formulas tab, click on Calculation Options, and choose Automatic.

5. Verify Data Types:

   • Confirm that the data types in the formula match the types of data in the referenced cells. Adjust as needed.

By addressing these potential issues and following the suggested solutions, you should be able to resolve the issue of formulas displaying as text in your Excel worksheet.