Excel Formula Shifts from Locked Cells

Question

I am having issues with formulas moving in excel when insterting or deleting columns/Rows. To confirm, these are either being inserted, copied, or deleted (if rows), not cut & pasted. The cells they are looking at are already locked and formulas haven't moved before when being in the same sheet. It is now happening across multiple people in our office, can you help?

On top of that when deleting/inserting it is not happening first time. What it feels like is happening is that it is actioning it but we are unable to see it, when we then go to re-do it, it's then potentially moving things on. Again, I don't think this should happen regardless when looking at locked cells?

* Changed to a question

Answer 1

This is bug in your office version. Bug fix has been released. You may update to latest version.

Answer 2

Hi! Yes see answers below -

1. Version of Excel -
2. by locked cell I mean by locking columns or cells using F4. By formulas moving it's difficult to explain but I will try my best at what has happened this week:

I have a document which I inserted a column into - just for some raw data, there were no formulas attached to this

Later on I deleted that column. Instead of the column deleting it just cleared the contents (definitely selected to delete column)

Then formulas in different columns (before and after the one I just deleted) moved. So the locked columns/cells they were on before shifted one over

When I deleted the column it instead cleared the contents. So I then had to delete it again (I think something is happening in the first instance I try to delete it)

As an example this is how the formula is set up so I know it's nothing written which is causing it -

It is happening across different spreadsheets but it is occurring when deleting or inserting columns/rows

Answer 3

Hello, Holly Ives Welcome to Microsoft Community. I realize that you've encountered a problem with Excel, and I understand that you need help. But in order to more accurately address your question, could you please provide more information?  

• Before anything, please tell me what version of Excel you are using. To see version: Open Excel and select Account. Share us with a screenshot of Product Information.
• When you mentioned "locked cell", do you mean the "Locked" option in Format Cells? Or absolute references （press F4 and get a "$" with the address) in formulas?
• Also, I would like to know what exactually does "formulas moving" mean. Are formulas going to other cells after insterting or deleting columns/rows? If convenient, please share us with a screenshot to help us better understand your issue.
• I know it is now happening across multiple people in your office. Is that problematic Excel worksheet a share file? Or you and your colleagues have the same problem in different files?

I am more than willing to assist you, but to ensure that we can communicate effectively and find a solution, please describe your problem in as much detail as possible. I'm looking forward to your reply.Best wishes,Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist