Description of how Excel determines the current mode of calculation

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This article was previously published under Q214395

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, all currently open documents use the same mode of calculation, regardless of the mode in which they have been saved.

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MORE INFORMATION

To help explain how the mode of calculation is determined, this article refers to the following hypothetical documents:

                                      Saved with this
   File name      Type of document    mode of calculation
   ------------------------------------------------------
   Auto1.xls      Workbook            Automatic
   Manual1.xls    Workbook            Manual
   Auto2.xls      Workbook            Automatic

The following statements apply to calculation modes in Excel:

The first document opened uses the calculation mode with which it was last saved. Subsequently opened documents use the same mode.

For example, if you open Auto1.xls and then open Manual1.xls, both documents use automatic calculation (the mode used by Auto1.xls). If you open Manual1.xls and then open Auto1.xls, both documents use manual calculation.
Changing the calculation mode of one open document changes the mode for all open documents.

If Auto1.xls and Auto2.xls are both open, changing the calculation mode of Auto2.xls to manual also changes the mode of Auto1.xls to manual.
All sheets contained in a workbook use the same mode of calculation.

If Auto2.xls contains three worksheets, changing the mode of calculation of the first worksheet to manual also changes the mode of calculation to manual in the other two sheets.
If all other documents are closed and you create a new document, the new document uses the same calculation mode as the previously closed documents.

However, if you use a template, the mode of calculation is the mode that is specified in the template.
If the mode of calculation in a workbook has changed and the file is saved, the current mode of calculation is saved.

If Auto1.xls is opened, Manual1.xls is opened, and Manual1.xls is immediately saved, the mode of calculation is saved as automatic.

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How to control the mode of calculation

All open documents use the same mode of calculation. You must follow special procedures to work with documents that use different calculation modes. For example, if you are working with Auto1.xls and you want to open Manual1.xls in manual calculation mode, do either of the following:

Set Auto1.xls to manual calculation mode before you open Manual1.xls.
Close Auto1.xls (and any other open documents) before you open Manual1.xls.

There are four modes of calculation that you can select in Microsoft Office Excel and in earlier versions of Excel. These modes are as follows:

Automatic
Automatic except tables
Manual
Recalculate before save

In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, the four modes of calculation are as follows:

Automatic
Automatic except for data tables
Manual
Recalculate workbook before saving

   For this mode          Recalculation occurs when
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   Automatic              You make any change to the document. All
                          affected parts of the document are
                          recalculated.

   Automatic              You make any change to the document. All
   except tables          affected parts of the document except tables are
                          recalculated. A table is recalculated only when a 
                          change is made to it.

   Manual                 You press the F9 key, click Options on the
                          Tools menu, click the Calculation tab, and
                          click the Calc Sheet button.

   Manual /               You press F9, or click Calc Sheet on the
   Recalculate before     Calculation tab on the Tools/Options menu, as
   Save                   well as every time you save the file.

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Recalculate the active sheet

To recalculate only the active sheet, use one of the following methods:

Press SHIFT+F9.
In Excel 2003 and in earlier versions of Excel, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Calculation tab. Click the Calc Sheet button to calculate only the active sheet.

In Excel 2007, click Calculate Sheet on the Formulas menu in the Calculation group.

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Recalculate all open documents

To recalculate all open documents, use one of the following methods:

Press F9.
In Excel 2003 and in earlier versions of Excel, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Calculation tab, and then click the Calc Now button.

In Excel 2007, click Calculate Now on the Formulas menu in the Calculation group.

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How to change the mode of calculation in Excel 2007

Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options.
On the Formulas tab, select the calculation mode that you want to use.

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How to change the mode of calculation in Excel 2003 and in earlier versions of Excel

Click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Calculation tab.
Under Calculation, click the calculation mode that you want to use.

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