Formatting Cells

[Damaris]

I started working with an Excel file from the 97-2003. At some point I
clicked on save as and saved the document to 2007 Excel Workbook. Since then,
I have encountered the following issues:

cells formatted to general, text, number continually re-format themselves to
date format the next time I open the workbook. I then go back and format the
cells again to either number, text, or general, save the document, and when I
open the workbook again the next time these columns/cells are all ###### and
when I adjust the width I see that they have once again switched back to
date.

Another problem I have been having is when I use the Auto Sum and select
various cells the formula returns a value such as, =SUM(C27,C12,C15,C3)
instead of returning the value of these cells in this case $5,865. I've had
the same problem occur when using the vlookup formula it returns the value of
the vlookup formula (as if I had used the ctrl+~) instead of returning the
value I requested (in this case it would have been a word).

This is very frustrating as all of my daily work activities are performed
using intricate formulas in excel and these MUST do what I ask or I cannot
perform my job duties.

Please explain why excel 2007 is doing this and is there something I can do
to stop if from doing this.

Thanks, Damaris

 

[David Biddulph]

My guess is that the cell in question is formatted as text.
Format the cell as General, then re-enter the formula (F2 or click in the
formula bar, then enter).

 

[Damaris]

David,
I've done that. The truth is I never had these issues with Excel 2003.
What's more disconcerting is that I re-format the cell to the correct format,
save the doc, and when I open it again the next time the format is switched
back to "date".

 

[David Biddulph]

Are you sure that you're opening the right version of the workbook? Have
you tried making some other minor amendment to the sheet (such as putting
your initials in a spare cell), & checking that it's there when you open the
book again (at the stage where you think it's reopening with the wrong
format)?

If you are sure that you are saving & opening the right versions, have you
checked for any macros which might be changing the format?