vanishing formulas in Excel

[Miya]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm an expert Excel user and I'm encountering a problem I've never encountered in 22 years of working with computer spreadsheets. I have an Excel 2008 spreadsheet with very simple formulas in it. Nothing fancy. Everytime I save the spreadsheet and close it, then reopen it, the formulas are gone-- they've been converted to simple values! I reenter the formulas, save the spreadsheet, and the next time I go to open it, the formulas are gone again-- converted to values. This is completely bizarre. I've been working with spreadsheets since 1986 and I've never experienced anything like this. Very disturbing.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm an expert Excel user and I'm encountering a problem I've never encountered
in 22 years of working with computer spreadsheets. I have an Excel 2008
spreadsheet with very simple formulas in it. Nothing fancy. Everytime I save
the spreadsheet and close it, then reopen it, the formulas are gone-- they've
been converted to simple values! I reenter the formulas, save the spreadsheet,
and the next time I go to open it, the formulas are gone again-- converted to
values. This is completely bizarre. I've been working with spreadsheets since
1986 and I've never experienced anything like this. Very disturbing.

Are you sure you are saving the file as an Excel workbook?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Miya;

I'd have to ask the same question as Bob G. - Check in Excel>Preferences>
Compatibility to make sure "Save files in this format:" is set to .xlsx (or
an appropriate alternative). If it's set to CSV or something similar it
could account for what you describe.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac