Microsoft Knowledge Base

MXL5: Font Color Changes If Cell Has Formula and Cell Note
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q124111
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for the Macintosh, if the font in a cell is some color other than black, and if the cell contains a formula and a cell note, then the color of the font may change to black when the formula is recalculated.

CAUSE

The color of the font may change to black when the formula is updated and the following conditions are true:

  • The formula points to values in other cells

    -and-

  • The recalculation occurs because the values in the other cells have changed

Note that if the resulting value of the formula does not change at recalculation, then the font color will not change.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods to refresh your screen. When you do this, the font in the affected cell will be restored to its original color.

Method 1: Press PAGE DOWN then press PAGE UP.

Method 2: From the Application menu (in the right corner of the menu bar), 

          choose Hide Microsoft Excel, and then from this same menu, choose
          Microsoft Excel.
Method 3: Activate your screen saver, and then turn it off (the exact 
          procedure for doing this will depend on the type of screen saver
          you are using).

REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 38 , "Adding Comments to a Worksheet"

KBCategory: kbdisplay kbusage
KBSubcategory: xlmac

Additional reference words: 5.00



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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.