What does { } mean at the beginning and end of a formula

[JSlad]

I've entered a formula a number of months ago that when you tab into it, it shows { } at the beginning and end. When I click into the cell that contains the formula they disappear and I have no idea how to get them back and the formula no longer works.

When I manually add them the whole formula shows but as text and nothing calculates.

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[Rick Rothstein]

I've entered a formula a number of months ago that when you tab into it, it shows { } at the beginning and end. When I click into the cell that contains the formula they disappear and I have no idea how to get them back and the formula no longer works.

When I manually add them the whole formula shows but as text and nothing calculates.

You should not manually enter them... Excel places them around your formula when you commit the formula using CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER (not just Enter by itself)... that keystroke combination tells Excel the formula is an "array formula" that it has to iterate the cell ranges individually, cell-by-cell in order to build up the calculation for the formula.

 

[JSlad]

Thank you, that did the trick.