Excel 2019 Mystery Formula

Copper Contributor

From time to time, a weird formula appears in a cell in an old worksheet without my entering it when I first open its workbook.  When that happens, I cannot enter data anywhere in the worksheet until I delete the formula.  In the past, the formula has triggered a circular reference error message.  Today, a formula appeared but did not generate an error message.  I could not delete the formula or enter data anywhere.  After closing the blank workbook which opened when I first opened Excel to access the old workbook, I was able to enter data in the old worksheet and delete the weird formula.  What is causing this problem?

4 Replies

@MFL100 

Could you attach a stripped-down copy of the workbook without sensitive data but with the mystery formula?

@Hans Vogelaar 

I had deleted the formula.  Unfortunately, the whole workbook consists of sensitive data.

I can send a screenshot of the cell if the problem recurs.

@MFL100 

I fear that a screenshot won't help, sorry.