Is it possible to have the user type a formula into a cell and have it treated as text so that other cells can incorporate that into their formula?

  • Not sure if this makes sense. Let's say I wanted to the user to just enter "amount * 7" in a cell with amount being a named range such that other cells can incorporate this into their existing formula,

    e.g. I've tried "=B3+INDIRECT(A1)" which obviously doesn't work, but ideally if B3 is 5 and amount is 5, then it would calculate as 40. I'm really just wanting to be able to write custom formulas into a cell and have them update a whole bunch of cells. Or is there a better way to do this that I'm not thinking?

  • Hello,


    Your explanation is not very clear ... with =amount * 7 ... if amount = 5 ... you will get 35 ... and not 40 ...


    Why don't you attach a sample file to illustrate your objective ...:)

    If you feel like saying "Thank You" for the help received, do not hesitate to click the "Smiley" icon, below, in the bottom right corner :)

  • Hello,


    Your explanation is not very clear ... with =amount * 7 ... if amount = 5 ... you will get 35 ... and not 40 ...


    Why don't you attach a sample file to illustrate your objective ...:)

    Right, but the calculation I want to be able to do is in another cell that will take that formula and incorporate it into another formula. In the example I gave, it is simply adding the value of cell B3 which is 5 with the formula given that has a value of 35, so the final result would be 40. This is a simplified example which can be solved in other ways, but I just kept it simple for the sake of explaining the behavior I want. I want to be able to insert equations as text basically so that they can be used as formulas in other cells. I am working with lots of different models with equations that can often be substituted in and out (within other larger equations) so being able to just change these on the fly by entering them in a single cell is what I'm looking to be able to do. Thanks

  • Glad you could fix your problem :)


    Thanks for your Thanks ..AND for the Like :thumbup:

    If you feel like saying "Thank You" for the help received, do not hesitate to click the "Smiley" icon, below, in the bottom right corner :)

  • Glad you could fix your problem :)


    Thanks for your Thanks ..AND for the Like :thumbup:

    Actually this isn't doing what I was looking for sorry, I got excited and didn't realize it wasn't using cell C2.


    I want to be able to take cell C2 directly and use it in a formula, does that make sense? Thanks again

  • Glad you could fix your problem :)


    Whenever possible, please attach a sample file to make everything a lot easier to grasp ...;)

    If you feel like saying "Thank You" for the help received, do not hesitate to click the "Smiley" icon, below, in the bottom right corner :)

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