How To Display Formulas In Excel: A Step-By-Step Guide

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Accessing the Formula Bar: The formula bar is a useful tool for displaying formulas in Excel. To access it, click on the formula bar at the top of the screen, or use the shortcut key Control + U.
  • Displaying Formulas in Cells: To display formulas in cells, you can use cell formatting or a function. To use cell formatting, select the cells you want to format, right-click, and select “Format Cells”. Then, choose “Text” from the “Number” tab. To use a function, simply type “= ” followed by the formula you want to display in the cell.
  • Displaying Formulas in a Separate Worksheet: To display formulas in a separate worksheet, you can create a new worksheet and link to the original worksheet. To do this, select the cell you want to link to, type “=’Sheet1′!A1” (substitute “Sheet1” with the name of your original worksheet), and press Enter. You can also use conditional formatting to highlight the cells containing formulas in the original worksheet.

You don’t have to be an Excel master to display formulas. Learn how to show formulas in this comprehensive, step-by-step guide and make calculating values easier. Struggling to keep track of complex data? This guide is here to help you!

How to Display Formulas in Excel

Mastering the art of displaying formulas in Excel? Easy-peasy! Access the formula bar and use shortcut keys. These two sub-sections should do the trick. No more confusion or frustration when you need to see your formulas. Simple!

Accessing the Formula Bar

To reveal and display the Formula Bar in Excel, follow this quick and straightforward guide.

  1. Locate the Ribbon at the top of the page
  2. Click on the View tab
  3. In the Show group, select Formula Bar option
  4. The Formula Bar will appear above your worksheet
  5. To hide it again, repeat steps 1-3 and unselect the Formula Bar option.

It’s worth noting that you can also access the Formula Bar through a keyboard shortcut by pressing CTRL + ~.

Excel provides effective ways to view formulas embedded in cells using different tools like controls, functions, and styles.

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Save time in Excel by using shortcut keys, because who has the patience for clicking through endless menus?

Using Shortcut Keys

Keyboard Shortcuts for Showing Formulas in Excel

To quickly display formulas in Excel, you can use keyboard shortcuts. These keys help you to avoid scrolling through lengthy spreadsheets and instead provide a quick way to see the formula used.

  1. Select the cells whose formulas you want to view
  2. Press the “Ctrl” and “~” keys simultaneously
  3. To revert back to normal view with cell values displayed, press “Ctrl” and “~” together again.

In addition to these steps, you can also customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel based on your preferences using the Options menu.

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Get ready to show off your Excel skills to your co-workers with these formulas displayed like a pro.

Displaying Formulas in Cells

Show formulas in cells with solutions? Just follow these steps!

  1. First, apply cell formatting to the cells you want to display the formula in.
  2. Or, use an Excel function to directly show the formula in the cell.

Keep reading for more info on each method.

Using Cell Formatting

In order to emphasize and highlight data in Excel, “Formatting Cells” can be used. Here’s a guide that breaks down a three-step process for using cell formatting in Excel.

  1. Choose the cells that need to be formatted
  2. Go to the Home tab on top of the spreadsheet
  3. In the Number section, choose from various options such as currency, percentage or date formats

It is also possible to customize cell formatting settings so that they function based on specific formulas or conditions.

For further clarity, remember that appropriate cell formatting can make data easier to read and understand at a glance.

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Put your Excel skills to the test and let functions do all the heavy lifting, while you sit back and take credit for the results.

Using a Function

Using Function in Excel is an efficient way to perform automatic calculations and manipulate data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to Using Function:

  1. Enter the formula into the cell where you want the answer to be displayed.
  2. Use a function, by selecting it from the Formulas Tab or using the shortcut key combination.
  3. Add arguments, which are details or information that function needs to perform a calculation.
  4. Press Enter [↵] or click on the checkmark icon. The result will be displayed in the cell.
  5. The answer automatically updates if there are changes made to any of its dependent cells.

To use functions properly, it’s important to know how each one works and what arguments are required for accurate results. Therefore, increase your knowledge of different functions with online tutorials.

Pro Tip: Always double-check formulas for correct inputs and outputs before presenting them for official purposes.

Don’t you wish life had a separate worksheet where you could just display all your formulas and solve everything?

Displaying Formulas in a Separate Worksheet

Excel can help you display formulas on a different worksheet. Two options are:

  1. Creating a new worksheet: This will give you a copy of the original. This protects the original and lets you show the formulas without affecting it.
  2. Using conditional formatting: This makes it easy to see which cells use formulas.

Creating a New Worksheet

To create a new sheet to display Excel formulas, follow the steps outlined below.

  1. Click on the “+” icon located next to the current sheet’s name. This will create a new sheet.
  2. Alternatively, right-click on any existing sheet’s tab and select “Insert” from the context menu. Choose “Worksheet” from the “Insert” dialogue box that appears and click on OK.
  3. A new worksheet will be created, and you can rename it by double-clicking on its name located at the bottom of Excel screen.

It is worth noting that Excel allows users to insert multiple sheets into their workbooks for easy data organization.

It is essential to keep in mind that adding too many sheets could slow down your computer’s processing speed, and thus it is best practice only to add as many sheets as needed.

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Conditional Formatting in Excel – because seeing is believing, and sometimes not seeing is even better.

Using Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is a powerful feature in Microsoft Excel that allows users to customize cell appearance based on conditions. Using Conditional Formatting can be done by following the below 3-Step Guide:

  1. Highlight the cells you want to apply conditional formatting.
  2. Select the ‘Conditional Formatting’ option in the ‘Home’ tab of Excel Ribbon.
  3. Choose the desired condition from the drop-down menu and customize your cell design.

It’s worth noting that this feature not only allows users to change cell colors, but also text styles, gradients, and even add icons. This incredibly capable tool has endless possibilities when it comes to designing spreadsheets.

Pro Tip: Apply custom rules for conditional formatting to see changes in real-time by selecting ‘New Rule > Use a formula to determine which cells to format’. This will allow for more precise control over your cell designs.

Who needs a magician when you can print formulas in Excel? Watch as the numbers disappear and reveal their captivating equations.

Printing Formulas

To show formulas when printing in Excel, you require to set-up print settings. This section concentrates on printing formulas and two subsections that can aid you. Setting print options helps you control what Excel displays or leaves out when printing; using page layout view can verify where formulas lie on the page.

Setting Print Options

When presenting a document, the visual appeal is as crucial as its content. Achieving an impressive look for an Excel worksheet involves selecting the right print settings. Lucky for users, there are several options to choose from when considering how to format a worksheet before printing.

Here’s a six-step guide to setting print options for your Excel documentation:

  1. Select the ‘Page Layout’ tab on the ribbon at the top of your sheet.
  2. Click on ‘Print Titles.’
  3. In the same ‘Page Setup’ section, click on ‘Size’ and choose between letter size or legal size paper or select custom page dimensions.
  4. Next, click on ‘Print Area’ to enable printing particular worksheets based on selected cells rather than printing out all sheets in your workbook.
  5. The final step is choosing what should be included in the printed worksheet under ‘Sheet Options.’ This will allow you to pick whether or not objects such as graphics or charts will accompany sheet data when being printed.

It’s worth noting that users have other essential print settings such as scaling, headers/footers, and sheet orientation that they can leverage while preparing their worksheet.

Ultimately, understanding how best to position information throughout one’s document may vary from user to user. That said, getting an in-depth knowledge of various print setting options can significantly improve both productivity and presentation quality.

See your spreadsheet in a whole new dimension with Page Layout View – it’s like getting the 3D glasses for your budget projections.

Using Page Layout View

Page Layout View- How to Utilize Excel’s Page Layout View

To best display formulas in Excel, one useful tool is Page Layout View. Here is how to use it:

  1. Open your worksheet and click on the “View” tab at the top.
  2. Select “Page Layout” from the various view options.
  3. Adjust zoom settings as necessary.
  4. Spreadsheet cells will appear smaller, and you can see page borders and margins.
  5. Choose where you want to insert page breaks by hovering over the right margin and clicking when a dashed line appears.
  6. Save your changes and enjoy full-page spreadsheet editing.

In addition to these steps, it is important to note that using Page Layout View allows you to view how your final printed pages will look, which can be helpful for formatting purposes.

One individual who utilized this tool was a data analyst working on an important presentation for their company’s executives. With tight deadlines looming, they needed an efficient way to edit and display complex formulas in their spreadsheet. After discovering Page Layout View, they were able to quickly format and adjust their spreadsheet for print, ultimately impressing their colleagues with their polished presentation materials.

If your formulas are playing hide-and-seek with your display, don’t worry – we’ll teach you how to catch them in this troubleshooting section.

Troubleshooting Display Issues

Got display issues with formulas in Excel? No sweat. Check cell references and use error-checking tools. This’ll help you to fix the display problem and make sure formulas are showing up properly. Problem solved!

Checking Cell References

To ensure accurate results, it is essential to verify references in cells. This process is crucial for preventing errors and avoiding data inconsistencies.

  1. Highlight your desired target cell and identify the formula bar above.
  2. Review the contents of the cell and ensure all values in the formula bar match what you intended to use.
  3. If necessary, modify or update the reference values within the cell to eliminate errors.

Double-checking cell references in Excel can save you time and mitigate potential issues.

Using Error Checking Tools

When it comes to spotting and resolving issues with formulas in Excel, utilizing error checking tools is a must. Here’s how you can effectively use these tools for improved troubleshooting.

  1. Navigate to the ‘Formula Auditing’ tab on the ribbon.
  2. Next, click on ‘Error Checking’, and review any flagged errors or warnings.
  3. If necessary, select ‘Trace Error’ to locate the source of the problem.

Taking advantage of these steps can aid in identifying and correcting issues within your Excel formulas.

In addition to these error checking tools, it’s also essential to keep your spreadsheet organized and labeled appropriately. Proper formatting and clear labeling can make it easier to spot mistakes and maintain accurate data.

Don’t let pesky formula issues hold you back from reaching your Excel goals! Make sure to utilize error checking tools and organization techniques for smooth sailing in your spreadsheet endeavors.

Five Facts About How to Display Formulas in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

  • ✅ To display formulas in Excel, go to the Formulas tab in the Ribbon and click on the Show Formulas button. (Source: Microsoft Excel Help)
  • ✅ Another way to display formulas is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ` (grave accent). (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ The advantage of displaying formulas is that it allows you to check for errors and understand how calculations are performed in your spreadsheet. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ To return to normal view and hide the formulas, simply click on the Show Formulas button or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ` again. (Source: BetterCloud)
  • ✅ Displaying formulas is especially useful when working with complex spreadsheets that involve multiple calculations and formulas. (Source: MyExcelOnline)

FAQs about How To Display Formulas In Excel: A Step-By-Step Guide

1. How do I display formulas in Excel?

To display formulas in Excel, go to the Formulas tab on the ribbon and click on the Show Formulas button. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ~ (tilde).

2. How can I hide formulas in Excel?

To hide formulas in Excel, simply go to the Formulas tab on the ribbon and click on the Show Formulas button again. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ~ (tilde) to toggle between showing and hiding formulas.

3. How do I copy and paste formulas in Excel?

To copy and paste formulas in Excel, simply select the cell with the formula, and then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C to copy the formula. Next, select the cell(s) where you want to paste the formula, and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V to paste it.

4. Can I display formulas in a specific cell without showing them in the entire worksheet?

Yes, you can. Simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + ~ (tilde) to show formulas in the active cell only. To hide the formula again, use the same keyboard shortcut.

5. Is there a way to temporarily switch between formula view and normal view?

Yes, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ` (grave accent) to temporarily switch between formula view and normal view. This can be useful if you need to quickly check or edit formulas without permanently switching views.

6. How do I print formulas in Excel?

To print formulas in Excel, first show the formulas using the methods described above. Then, go to the Page Layout tab on the ribbon and click on the Print Area button. Finally, select the option to print the entire workbook or the selected sheets, and click on the Print button.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.