[Solved] Cell displays its formula, not its value

[DWDun]

Well, here's another puzzler for you to chew on. Kind of a follow on to my void cell poroblem, which I solved by changing a reference; now I find that when I modify the Formulas in my existing work to cure the problem there, after the Formula has been modified, and the green checkmark clicked, the cell displays the Formula itself in the lage text in which it is displayed while editing. I will follow the instructions passed in the conclusion of my other post and send a copy for examination.

[RoryOF]

Open Calc. Select /Tools /Options: OpenOffice Calc: View item, and verify that "Display : Formulae" is unchecked. If not, uncheck i t.

[DWDun]

VOIDCELL.ods

(19.98 KiB) Downloaded 66 times

[RoryOF]

As I said above.

[DWDun]

Tools/Options/Open Office: Calc / View Display Hormula is unchecked and that is the way I found it.

[DWDun]

I even went so far as to check and unckeck it. No change.

[DWDun]

I have, I think, isolated it down to the copy/paste attempt. Will explore tht possible connection further and report.

[RoryOF]

Using your sample file, on my computer(s) toggling that setting changed between display of the formulae and the results. When you have changed that setting, you must click the OK button at bottom of that window.

[DWDun]

Yes. And on my computer when I go back and unclick the box at Display Formulas, click Okay, and return to the same page, nothing has changed. I have now uninstalled Open )ffice 4.1.15, reinstalled it using all the default options, and I still get the same results. So the problem must lie in some file that Calc creates and/or maintains, but I am not knowledgeable enough to know what or where that file might be, so I will have to depend on the knowdge resident at Open Office Support. Or, the possibility does exist that the problem is in my own laptop. Any thoughts on that possibility?

[Hagar Delest]

Try to reset your OpenOffice user profile.
Else, try LibreOffice, see [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information.

[RoryOF]

I think you should reset your OpenOffice profile, as Hagar suggests. I've examined your sample file again, and on my computers, using a different (i.e., not your) OpenOffice User Profile, all is well with your file.

Reinstalling or installing a new version of OpenOffice automatically picks up an old profile, with any faults. This is good for long-time users of OpenOffice who do not have any fault in their OpenOffice User profile, as it keeps their dictionaries and customisation.

[Alex1]

Formulas entered in cells formatted as text are treated as text.

[DWDun]

Attempting to reset the User Profile, "Tutorial for users of Windows 10:" All Open Office windows arev closed, right clicking on the little gable-shaped icon gets me a large menu that says nothing at all about what the Tutorial shows. Nothing about quiting anything. I will try my files on another computed with Open Office installed and see if I need a new laptop. Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative to Apple and Microsoft??

[RoryOF]

I can't help with any Windows specifics, as I have not used it in many years. Nor used Apple at all.

The most usual alternative to Apple or Microsoft is some form of linux, but that, in general, requires more computer familiarity than I think you have. I suggest waiting for some Windows user to take you through the User Profile deletion steps in detail.

[DWDun]

I have tried the files on another computer and got the same results. Does the fact that they are on the same wireless network make any difference? Will they use the same user profile? What opoerating system do yo use, RoryOf? If it is linux I will have to agree with your appraisal of my tchnologicsal capabilities. Tried it, declined it.Guess I'm stuck with Microsoft. So I'll wait for a Windows user to check in.

[Hagar Delest]

I have tried the files on another computer and got the same results. Does the fact that they are on the same wireless network make any difference?

No.

Will they use the same user profile?

No. The profile is local, on the machine.

What opoerating system do yo use, RoryOf?

See his forum signature, under the text area.

So I'll wait for a Windows user to check in.

To reset the profile, all is said in the tutorial. Just follow the steps. Don't forget to read the instructions between the screenshots.
However, it won't change anything. The problem is inside the file. As said by Alex1, the cells are formatted as text as soon as you try to change their content in that column. Can't see why .
Click a number format in the toolbar, it should add an apostrophe at the beginning of the formula. Then delete that apostrophe and hit enter, you'll get your formula back. Then fix the value error by simplifying the formula until you find the problem.

[RoryOF]

The sample file worked on my systems without any alterations. I suspect a User error.

[Hagar Delest]

Well I saw the same as OP with LO.

[Alex1]

You didn't tell which cells give problems. Cells B1:B25 are formatted as text. I don't know why, but this must have been done after entering formulas, otherwise you would see formulas instead of their value. Change their formatting to All, then you'll keep seeing their value after modifying them.

[Hagar Delest]

What is strange is that (with LO), the formulas (in column B) are treated as that, firstly. But if you try to modify them, then they are considered as text.
Don't know what is the problem there exactly. Ctrl+M does nothing (they are still considered as text), even setting the cell format to standard. Only by setting it to number and then deleting the apostrophe gives a formula again.

[Alex1]

My experience is different, both in OO and LO.
I change B1's formatting to All, then change $CA$1 to $CA$2, and the result is "and".
Ctrl+M changes the formatting to Number instead, but works equally well.

[DWDun]

Problem solved. Incorrect cell formatting was the culprit. Thanks for the help!