Troubleshooting Excel Formulas Showing Instead of the Result
What is the Problem?
Have you ever been in the middle of working on a spreadsheet and suddenly, instead of seeing the results of your formula, you see the formula itself? It's a common issue that can be caused by a variety of factors. Fortunately, it's usually an easy fix.
What Causes This to Happen?
This issue is usually caused by one of two issues. The first is that you have Formula View Mode enabled. This feature can be enabled in the Excel Options menu. When enabled, it will display your formulas instead of the results.
The second issue is that your cell's formatting is set to Text. This can also be adjusted in the Excel Options menu. When set to Text, the cell will display the formula instead of the result.
How to Fix the Problem?
The fix for this issue is fairly simple. First, check to make sure that your Formula View Mode is disabled. To do this, go to the File menu, then Options. In the Advanced tab, make sure that the Show Formulas in Cells Instead of their Calculated Results box is unchecked.
Next, check to make sure that your cell's formatting is not set to Text. To do this, right-click on the cell and select Format Cells. Then, select General from the list of formatting options. This will ensure that the cell is formatted correctly and that the formula will display the results instead of the formula itself.
Preventing the Problem in the Future
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to make sure this issue doesn't happen again. First, always double-check to make sure that your Formula View Mode is disabled. This can be done quickly by checking the box in the Excel Options menu.
Second, always make sure that your cells are properly formatted. This can be done by selecting the correct formatting option from the Format Cells menu. Doing this will ensure that the formula displays the results instead of the formula itself.
Conclusion
Having Excel formulas show instead of the result can be a frustrating issue. Fortunately, it's usually an easy fix. Just make sure that your Formula View Mode is disabled and that your cell's formatting is set to the correct option. Taking these steps will ensure that you don't experience this issue again.