Missing Equal Sign Tool

Natasha noted that she used to have a equal sign next to the Formula bar that I could click instead of having to enter the equal sign. Clicking the equal sign would also add an equal sign in front of whatever was already in the cell, without deleting the cell contents. When Natasha's office upgraded to Excel 2002, the equal sign disappeared. She wondered how she could get the equal sign back.

The change you noted was done on purpose by Microsoft. They, without any fanfare, dropped the equal sign from the left of the Formula bar with the introduction of Excel 2002. Instead, Microsoft changed the tool to the Insert Function tool, which you can click on to select how you want to put together a formula using functions. This is obviously not the same as the old equal sign tool, however.

You can, if you desire, add an equal sign tool to a toolbar. Follow these steps if you are using a version of Excel prior to Excel 2007:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Make sure the Commands tab is displayed.
3. In the Categories list, choose Insert. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Scroll through the Commands list to find the equal sign tool (oddly enough, it has an equal sign on it).
5. Use the mouse to drag the equal sign tool to wherever you want it on the toolbar.
6. Click OK to close the Customize dialog box.

If you are using Excel 2007, then you should follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button, then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options dialog box.
2. Click the Customize option at the left side of the dialog box.
3. Using the Choose Commands From drop-down list, choose Commands Not In The Ribbon.
4. Scroll through the Commands list to find the equal sign tool.
5. Click Add. The tool is moved to the right side of the dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
6. Click OK to close the Excel Options dialog box. The tool now appears in the Quick Access Toolbar.

The equal sign tool can be used to enter an equal sign at the beginning of the Formula bar. It doesn't completely function like the old tool, as it won't add an equal sign to the beginning of the existing cell contents, and you can't place the tool right next to the Formula bar.