Formula 

Bar
By Ted French, About.com Guide

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 formula bar
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Formula bar in Excel spreadsheet

© Ted French

Definition: The formula bar in Excel is located above the work area of the spreadsheet. The formula
bar displays the data or formula stored in the active cell. The formula bar can be used to enter or edit
a formula, a function, or data in a cell.

Examples:

The active cell displayed the answer to the formula. The actual formula for the active cell was
displayed in the formula bar.

Enlarging the Formula Bar

Summary: The Formula bar is used to display the formula that appears in a cell. You may want
to modify how the Formula bar is displayed. Your modification options are limited, but you can
always hide the Formula bar completely. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000,
Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

When you select a cell in a worksheet, the contents of that cell are shown in the Formula bar. If
the contents are longer than what can be displayed in a single line on the Formula bar, the depth
of the Formula bar increases so that the entire formula can be displayed. When you move to
another cell, the Formula bar again decreases in depth to a single line.
The problem with an automatically adjusting Formula bar is that it can obscure other elements on
the screen. If the Formula bar takes up two or three lines of depth, it overlays the column headers
and other cells in the worksheet. This can be distracting, at times.

Unfortunately, there is no way to instruct Excel to a) limit the Formula bar to a set depth, or b)
decreasing the size of the type in the Formula bar so more can fit within a single line. (At least
this is true for versions of Excel prior to Excel 2007—more on that in a moment.) The best you
can do is to simply remove the Formula bar completely, so it is not visible. (If you have no
Formula bar displayed, then it cannot expand and obscure information in the worksheet.) You
can turn off the Formula bar in this manner if you are using a version of Excel prior to Excel
2007:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the View tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Clear the Formula Bar check box.
4. Click on OK.

Excel 2007 gives you more flexibility. It allows you to modify the number of lines used by the
Formula bar. That way it will always take a specific amount of space and you won't be bothered
by it jumping around as much. To expand the Formula bar (so you can see everything it
contains), click the tool at the very right edge of the Formula bar. When you hover the mouse
pointer over the tool, the ToolTip says "Expand Formula Bar."

If you want to turn off the Formula bar completely in Excel 2007, follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options
dialog box.
2. At the left of the dialog box click Advanced.
3. Scroll through the options until you see the Display section. (Click here to see a related
figure.)
4. Clear the Show Formula Bar check box.
5. Click on OK.

Controlling Display of the Formula Bar

Summary: The Formula Bar is a regularly used feature in the Excel interface. You can,
however, modify whether Excel displays the Formula Bar or not. (This tip works with Microsoft
Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)
The Formula Bar is the area at the top of the Excel window, just below the ribbon area or the
Formatting toolbar, depending on your version of Excel. The Formula Bar has two parts: at the
left is the Name Box, and to the right is the contents of the currently selected cell.

If you need more room to view a worksheet, or you don't need the information provided by the
Formula Bar, you can turn it off. To control display of the Formula Bar, follow these steps if you
are using Excel 2007:

1. Click the Office button and then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options
dialog box.
2. At the left side of the dialog box click Advanced.
3. Scroll down until you see the Display options. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Click on the Show Formula Bar check box. If it is selected, then the Formula Bar is
displayed; not selected means it won't be displayed.
5. Click on OK.

If you are using an older version of Excel, follow these steps:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. You will see the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the View tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Click on the Formula Bar check box. If it is selected, then the Formula Bar is displayed;
not selected means it won't be displayed.
4. Click on OK.

You can also use the Formula Bar option from the View tab of the ribbon or from the View
menu. This option functions like a toggle—click on it once, and the Formula Bar disappears;
click again, and it reappears.