Excel for Mac, Formula Bar Too Small

[jkiser]

This should be such a non-issue, but I have spent the last hour googling and searching how to fix this; stop me before I throw my computer off my desk...

This seems to be a repeated problem with Excel for Mac (2011). There are many times where I am trying to type a formula in a formula bar, but it is too small to show me the whole formula. I cannot find any way to expand it.

Additionally, my arrow keys function to move cells around, thereby replacing whatever I had in the formula to begin with. If I alt-tab to another window, then come back, the formula is highlighted. Hitting the right arrow to take me to the end of the formula instead moves my cursor to cell A2 (or whatever) and writes over my whole formula. ARGHHH.

To give you an example -- I am trying to create a dynamic named range. I am in the names manager trying to type a long OFFSET formula, but I can't see the whole thing. See screenshots to see what I mean.

Nevermind, can't seem to attach photos.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

I don't have a Mac, but in Windows you can press F2 to toggle Edit/Enter mode while in a RefEdit control:

http://www.excelguru.ca/blog/2009/07/03/quick-tip-%E2%80%93-set-refedit-boxes-to-edit-mode/

The current setting appears at the left of the Status Bar.

 

[mikerickson]

On the right of the formula edit box there is an arrow pointing down. Click it to convert the formula editing box to multi-line.

 

[jkiser]

On the right of the formula edit box there is an arrow pointing down. Click it to convert the formula editing box to multi-line.

Thanks, Mike. This works for the normal formula bar, but not for floating ones, such as when defining names.

 

[mikerickson]

No, it doesn't. What I do is edit the formula in a cell, until I'm sure that its doing what I want it to. Then I copy from the cell formula bar, invoke the other box and then paste.

Be aware of whether you have copied the equals sign.
I don't how many times I've copied a complicated formula, pasted, and had Excel convert my entry of SUM(A1:A10) into ="SUM(A1:A10)"

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Thanks, Mike. This works for the normal formula bar, but not for floating ones, such as when defining names.

Another option is to cut the formula in smaller units, which would make the whole thing more manageable. Care to post the formula you have?