Manually Recalculating a Single Cell or Range

 Last reviewed: October 15, 1997
Article ID: Q61622

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

The Calculate Now command on the Options menu causes every cell in the open worksheet to be recalculated even when calculations are set to manual. There are several methods to recalculate a single cell or range in Microsoft Excel that do not cause the entire workbook to recalculate.

MORE INFORMATION

To recalculate a single cell in a worksheet, do the following:

  1. Place the cursor in the cell to be recalculated.

  2. Press the F2 key.

  3. Press ENTER.

The following is another option to recalculate a single cell in a worksheet:

  1. Turn calculation to manual, that is, choose Calculation from the Options menu and select the Manual option button. (In version 5.0, choose Options from the Tools menu; choose the Calculation tab and select Manual.)

  2. From the Formula menu, choose Replace. (In version 5.0, choose Replace from the Edit menu.)

  3. Enter "=" (without quotation marks) into the Replace text box and "=" in the With text box.

  4. Choose Part from the Look At text box.

  5. Choose Replace (not Replace All).

To recalculate a single cell in a macro, use the following example: 

   A1: Cell_Recalc
   A2: =CALCULATION(3)
   A3: =FORMULA.REPLACE("=","=",2,1,TRUE)
   A4: =RETURN()
Below is an example to recalculate a range in a macro. This example assumes there are no arrays in the highlighted range and that the worksheet or macro sheet with the data to be updated is active when the macro is started. 

   A1: Range_Recalc
   A2: =ROW(SELECTION())
   A3: =ROWS(SELECTION())
   A4: =COLUMN(SELECTION())
   A5: =COLUMNS(SELECTION())
   A6: =FOR("num_of_rows",A2,A2+A3-1)
   A7: =FOR("num_of_cols",A4,A4+A5-1)
   A8: =A12()
   A9: =NEXT()
   A10: =NEXT()
   A11: =RETURN()
   A12: =SEND.KEYS("{F2}~")
   A13: =RETURN()
To recalculate only the cells in a single array, do the following:

  1. Select one cell in the array.

  2. From the Formula menu (ALT+R), choose Special (S) Current Array (A).

  3. Press the F2 key.

  4. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. These steps reenter the formula in the array, updating the values they return.

There is an undocumented feature of Microsoft Excel versions 2.0 and 2.1 that allows you to recalculate two noncontiguous regions of a worksheet. For more information on this feature, query on the following words: 

   selective and recalculation and manual and excel

Additional query words: 7.0 2.0 2.0 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0
3.00 4.0 4.0 4.0a 4.0a 5.0 5.0c
Keywords : xlformula kbusage
Version : 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 5.0c 7.0

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: October 15, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.