formula returns the formula

[april]

i have a spreadhseet that i have imported from Quickbooks with names in Col L
and ColM. i have written this formula =if(l16=m16, "yes", "no"). when i
enter this formula it returns the forumla exactly as it is written. i have
gone to another part of the worksheet (Col au) and get the same results.
it's not that i haven't gone far enough out of the area that was imported
because when i write this formula in Col AU i get the same thing. However, i
have another if statement in Col AA and get the correct answer not a
forumla-- i have tried this formula in a new workbook and it works so there
is something in that imported worksheet.

thanks in advance for your help.
aprilshowers

 

[Niek Otten]

Your cell was formatted as text before you entered the formula.
Format as General *and* re-enter the formula (F2, ENTER); just reformatting
is not enough

 

[berniean]

or

format as General then highlight the column and use Data/Text to Columns