When using fill handle, wrong values display

Question

When using fill handle, wrong value displays but new formulas are correct. What's up? The problems appears to be intermitment. I can make correct values appear when I toggle "extend data range formats and formulas" preference in Edit or toggle "use R1C1 reference style" in General. When I close and reopen a sheet, the preferences have not changed, but the problem returns. This is happening on all sheets and on my sheets opened Excel on other computers.

Answer 1

First - Reinstalling Mac applications is almost always a complete waste of time - apps just don't corrupt very often. Unlike Windows, which often resets the Registry when installing an application, Mac installs rarely touch Preferences, which are far more likely to corrupt.

It looks to me like Calculation is set to Manual. Change to Automatic in XL Preferences/Calculation.

Calculation mode is a workbook preference, so XL takes on the value of the first workbook that is opened during a session.

Answer 2

It sounds like reinstalling has gotten the apps out of synch with the support files & underlying bits which is one of the pitfalls JE was referring to :-) On those rare occasions where reinstalling is necessary a proper Removal should be done first. Have a look at the suggested procedure here.

As for being "repaid in heaven", I sure hope not - I doubt I'll ever get there :-)

Regards,

Bob J.

Answer 3

JE:

Woo Hoo! When I checked calculation preferences, the "automatic" radio button was highlighted. So I clicked "manual," then "automatic," shut down Excel, relaunched it and we have a fix! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Any clues about how to get Updater running again (without reloading software)? I'll do that Monday if I don't hear from you or Bob.

I suppose you two are repaid in heaven for watching this discussion board?

Again, thank you so much.

Marty

Answer 4

Bob,

Thanks for your reply. The OS is up-to-date.

In an attempt to repair this problem I reinstalled MS Office '08 and when I go to Help to "Check for Updates" I get this error message: "Microsoft AutoUpdate might not be properly installed on your computer. To resotore it, reinstall your Microsoft application." Auto Update worked fine until I reloaded software this morning.

Here is an example of my problem:

2 4

3 4

4 4

Imagine 2, 3 & 4 are in cells A1, A2, A3. The formula in B1 is "=A1*2" When this formula is entered and I hit return, "4" appears in A2. When I highlight B1 and drag the fill handle down, 4 and 4 appear in B2 and B3. When I highlight B2 the formula shows as "=A2*2" and the formula in B3 is "=A3*2" If I highlight B2, click in the formula bar and hit return, 6 appears in B2. Highlight B3, click and return in the formula bar, 8 appears.

It doesn't appear to be a software glitch. Maybe I've got a preference incorrect.

And of course, now I have to reload the software to make Auto Updater work, apparently because I reloaded software.

Your thoughts?

Answer 5

Before anything else, be sure that Office & OS X are fully updated. Repair disk permissions & restart your Mac. However...

In order for anyone to have a clue you'll have to give far more specific examples of what you mean...

• What is the starting value?
• What do you expect the values to be?
• What are the "wrong" values that display instead?

Examples & details are important.

Regards,

Bob J.