Hi all,I am trying to write a dynamic Excel formula (=SUBTOTAL(103, A2)) to an Excel sheet using FME Form, so that it evaluates automatically when a user opens the spreadsheet. However, FME keeps writing the formula as a literal text string (showing =SUBTOTAL(103, A2) in the cell) instead of calculating the actual formula.Here is what I have configured so far based on the documentation: AttributeManager: Created an attribute named ZICHTBAAR.formula Value set to: =SUBTOTAL(103; A2) (or with a comma depending on locale) I also exposed the base attribute ZICHTBAAR without the extension. Excel Writer Feature Type (User Attributes): The column ZICHTBAAR is present. I tried setting the Data Type to both string and auto. The issue: When running the workspace and opening the output file in Excel, the cells still show the raw formula text. It only evaluates to 1 or 0 if I manually double-click the cell and press Enter, or force a hard recalculation.What am I missing to make the Excel Writer natively flag this column as a live, evaluable formula from the get-go?

Question

Excel Writer puts formulas as literal text strings instead of evaluating them

Forum|Forum|5 days ago
July 13, 2026
3 replies
49 views

+3

kevink
Contributor

Hi all,

I am trying to write a dynamic Excel formula (=SUBTOTAL(103, A2)) to an Excel sheet using FME Form, so that it evaluates automatically when a user opens the spreadsheet. However, FME keeps writing the formula as a literal text string (showing =SUBTOTAL(103, A2) in the cell) instead of calculating the actual formula.

Here is what I have configured so far based on the documentation:

AttributeManager:
- Created an attribute named ZICHTBAAR.formula
- Value set to: =SUBTOTAL(103; A2) (or with a comma depending on locale)
- I also exposed the base attribute ZICHTBAAR without the extension.
Excel Writer Feature Type (User Attributes):
- The column ZICHTBAAR is present.
- I tried setting the Data Type to both string and auto.

The issue: When running the workspace and opening the output file in Excel, the cells still show the raw formula text. It only evaluates to 1 or 0 if I manually double-click the cell and press Enter, or force a hard recalculation.

What am I missing to make the Excel Writer natively flag this column as a live, evaluable formula from the get-go?

+30

max_h
Enthusiast
Forum|Forum|4 days ago
July 14, 2026

I am using FME 2026.1 and works fine for me with default settings:

My suggestion would be to check your excel formulas options, maybe you have show formulas activated or something like that as your fme script seems correct.