ExcelXP - my formulae wont work!

[Roger Ottaway]

I have just upgraded to XP. when I type in a string formula such as =D2&"
"&E2, instead of getting the two words join, i just get the formula in the
cell. what needs to be reset ?

thanks

Roger

 

[Bernard Liengme]

I can reproduce in XL 2002. I entered the formula and it showed a string (XX
YY). The I double clicked the cell and pointed at an empty cell, now I see
the formula. Very odd. Ctrl-Z changed it back to a string. When I look at
the formula I can see no extraneous spaces. Have you developed the habit of
clicking a blank cell to compete an entry - we used to do this with Lotus!!
Try this: empty the cell with Edit|Clear|All, re-type the formula but make
sure you complete it by clicking the green check mark in the formula bar.
Let us know the result
Best wishes
Bernard

 

[BS]

Hi;

- The cell may be formatted as text
- May be formulae are not being calculated automatically so you have to
change options.

 

[Roger Ottaway]

Bernard



I don't click on the cell, I'm an old Symphony man and started with Excel
years ago (I guess that shows my age!). Also, the green tick seems to have
nothing to do with the problem.



But yes, you are basically correct! A little background . I get a txt file
with address and numeric data from a client, and I import the file into
Excel. As the file contains some 22 digit numbers I import them into Excel
as text to preserve the numbers (otherwise Excel defaults to 15 digits and
truncates them to scientific notation). I insert a column to concenate some
of the address text fields, and as the columns are formatted text Excel
defaults to inserting a column also in text format. So when I concenate two
text fields using a formula such as =D2&" "&E2 Excel assumes that the
formula is text (a string) and not a formula. To make the formula work the
cell needs to be formated general or number beforehand.



Thanks for your help, best wishes . Roger