Forum Discussion
Wrong evaluation order
The problem arises when the cell is formatted as Currency, Accounting, and perhaps Custom formats that include a currency symbol, and you enter the formula starting with "+" instead of "=".
The best solution is simple: don't do that. Enter formulas with "=" instead of "+".
There really is no good reason to start formulas of that form with "+".
(Users of numeric keypads like to enter constant expressions with "+".)
Alternatively, use redundant parentheses to force Excel to evaluate in the intended order. For example:
+('[external file.xlsx]Specialist Support_D'!$G$8/220)/4
The problem arises when the cell is formatted as Currency, Accounting, and perhaps Custom formats that include a currency symbol, and you enter the formula starting with "+" instead of "=".
The best solution is simple: don't do that. Enter formulas with "=" instead of "+".
There really is no good reason to start formulas of that form with "+".
(Users of numeric keypads like to enter constant expressions with "+".)
Alternatively, use redundant parentheses to force Excel to evaluate in the intended order. For example:
+('[external file.xlsx]Specialist Support_D'!$G$8/220)/4