# ExceL; Switching Formula with its Value?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 16, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852 "2015-02-16T20:35:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852/1 "2015-02-16T20:35:37Z")

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This used to be so easy, and now they’ve hidden this command somewhere! Does anyone know how to switch a formula (within a cell) for its value (displayed at that cell)? For example, the formula in a cell may read =2+2, and the cell displays 4. But, I just want “4” and forget the formula so I can further manipulate the spreadsheet without generating a spreadsheet errors! I am using MS Office Professional Plus 2010, Excel v.14.0.6129.5000 (32-bit)

Does anyone have a clue? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852/2 "2015-02-16T20:41:58Z")

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You can select one (or more cells) and Right-Click. The context menu will display:  
Cut  
Copy  
Paste Options:  
{img} {img}123 {img}fx {img}…

Choose the {img}123 option which is Paste-Values. This will paste the values over the selected cells.

You can also press Ctrl+Alt+V and interact with the Paste Dialog.  
You can also press Alt+E and the keys to do paste-values from a previous version (as indicated on the Ctrl+Alt+V dialog).

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852/3 "2015-02-16T20:43:31Z")

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Another way to do it:

F2 F9 Enter

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852/4 "2015-02-16T20:44:06Z")

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Or another way – Copy -\> Paste Special -\> Values.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-switching-formula-with-its-value/712852/5 "2015-02-16T21:53:07Z")

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Thanks! I’ll give it a 2nd try because I recall trying this before. I DO recall it worked when pasting in other cells, but I seem to recall it DID NOT like to let this work when trying to paste over the originally selected cells. I’ll come back in a few days and let you know my findings!