Some common problems when you see the formula--and not the results of the
formula.

#1. The cell is formatted as Text.
Reformat the cell as General (format|Cells|number tab)
And reenter the formula.

#2. You're looking at formulas.
Tools|Options|View Tab|uncheck Formulas

#3. You didn't start with an equal sign:
=sum(a1:a10)
(make sure you don't have any leading spaces, too.)

ajimmo wrote:

I recently installed my Office 2003 on my second laptop. Having read many of
your usual responses I know this is allowed and it worker.
I just set up an Excell file, entered some data, and planned to sum a column
in the usual way with eithr the sum formula which I can use or the Sum
button, Al I got was a repeat of the formula. From the dark recesses of my
mind I recall I couldn't make such a sum in the long, long ago from my old,
old desktop PC until I happened on a reference to "add-ins."
Recalling that installling add-ins was a sovereign remedy for the similar
situation in the past, I looked under Tools, Options, Add-ins, checked off
the summing item and pushed the top button. The second time I did this a
message came up, saying this was being installed. I was joyful as I thought
the problem solved, but sadly I still only get the formula in the cell where
I expect a sum. Some book (on Office '75) suggested that I reinstall the
Office program being careful to only install the add-ins portion. Is this
rther heroic(to me) effort necessary? Please advise and thanks, Ajimmo
Thanks, Ajimmo

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Dave Peterson