Formula/Reference won't resolve into value

[sjhilton]

Occasionally I trip into a mode where a formula or simple reference doesn't resolve into the value. This affects ALL newly entered cells in that worksheet, but won't necessarily affect functions in another worksheet in the same workbook. Example:

A1 contains a value, say 99
B2 has the reference: =A1

The result is cell B2 doesn't resolve the "=A1" to show 99, it just shows the formula/reference as if you had the formula view turned on.

No, I do NOT have the formula view switched, (Cntr + ~)
No, I do NOT have calculate turned off, pressing F9 does not calculate out the answer.

I don't how it jumps into this mode, but it has to be some keystrokes I'm fumbling with that causes it because it just shows up. I have not found a way to get out of this mode. HELP does not appear to know of this problem. Formulas entered before this happens continue to resolve OK, it's just the new entries which remain as entered.

Copying and pasting from one worksheet to another does not clear the problem. Neither does copying/pasting to a new workbook.

What keystrokes am I mistakenly entering and what is being turned on/off which would cause this?

I'm stumped!

 

[Oaktree]

Welcome to the board.

Is the cell formatted as text?

Otherwise, try using edit --> replace to replace all instances of = with =

 

[Jonmo1]

Welcome to the board..

Make sure your cell is formatted as Number or General (anything other than text, really). BEFORE entering the formula.

 

[sjhilton]

Thanks, you are correct. I can't imagine how the whole sheet changed to Text format, but it did.