Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Formulas Don't Calculate as Formulas.
When you enter information into a cell, Excel needs to determine how to treat that information. Should it be considered a date? A number? As a formula? Perhaps it is text? Excel interprets your cell entry according to a fairly well-defined set of rules. The "fallback" determination for a cell is to treat an entry as text.
You may notice something odd when entering information in a cell, however—Excel may always treat what you enter as text. For instance, you may enter a formula such as =B3 into a cell, with the expectation that the formula will be understood by Excel and the contents of cell B3 will be shown as a result of the formula. Excel, however, may simply display "=B3" in the cell, instead of the expected result.
If this happens to you, then Excel is not interpreting your cell entry as a formula, but as text. It is bypassing the normal parsing that goes on and instead jumping directly to the "fallback" determination of the cell containing text.
This problem happens most often when the cell into which you are entering information was previously formatted as text. In other words, someone used the Format Cells dialog box and explicitly formatted the cell as Text.
An easy way to correct this situation is to perform the following steps:
Your formula should now be treated as a formula instead of as text.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3087) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Formulas Don't Calculate as Formulas.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
When processing huge amounts of data, it can be a challenge to figure out how to derive the aggregate values you need. ...
Discover MoreWhen working with text phrases stored in cells, it might be helpful to be able to extract words from the phrase. In this ...
Discover MoreA common task faced by Excel users is to determine whether items in one list are also found in a different list. There ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-10-15 19:28:09
Miller
Rats, didn't work. When I enter a formula in any cell, it just displays the formula - doesn't calculate it. Very frustrating! I've tried copying all the data to another workbook, I've formatted the cell as general or number -- still won't calculate. What the heck!?
2018-11-22 08:45:45
Michael
There is another way to do it without using F2 - column by column.
Highlight particular column, then go to Data ---> Text To Columns, step through wizard ---> step 3 of 3 select Date which should convert cells into numbers. Then format as dates and they will appear correctly.
Still a lot of steps but I guess better than having to do each cell individually.
2018-11-21 08:11:51
Janko
I have same question like Jake and Mike. Is possible to do this for many cells at once? Hundert times to press F2 and ENTER is not fun.
2016-03-28 17:39:58
Sarah
the formula shows, I've formatted for numbers but it doesn't calculate. I also can't link it to a cell in another worksheet. It is bizarre.
2016-02-07 17:10:05
Julie
I'm try to compare 1 column values to other columns if a value is present. EXAMPLE on the L column L6:L330 has a value say x in all 330 rows and column 0 is 1 of 5 columns say O6:O330 only has 6 x's in all 330 rows WHAT does the formula look like to accomplish the count of the 6 x's in column O compared to column L ?
2016-01-27 00:34:33
Sivadas Manghat
Thanks. It is working
2015-11-05 13:34:03
LC
THANKS A LOT!
2015-10-02 03:37:54
Mike
Is it possible to do this for a huge block of cells without having to press F2 + Enter for every cell individually?
2015-07-02 14:56:35
PJE
That works, thank you.
2015-06-05 11:45:00
Tolu
Thanks alot. I have learnt something new
2014-11-21 01:13:22
Jake
Thank you. This is common when working with SAP related excels.
How can I do this for the whole table?
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments