Openoffice Calc How to View Calculated Values Without Source

When working with complex calculations in OpenOffice Calc, you may want to display only the results while keeping the underlying formulas hidden. This approach is useful for creating professional reports, presentations, or worksheets where the calculation process shouldn't be visible to end users. This guide explains how to achieve this in OpenOffice Calc.

Why Hide Formulas in OpenOffice Calc?

Hiding formulas in OpenOffice Calc serves several important purposes:

Professional presentation: When sharing spreadsheets with clients or colleagues, you may want to show only the results without revealing the calculation methods.
Security: In financial or sensitive data scenarios, hiding formulas prevents others from understanding the calculation logic.
Simplified interface: For end users who don't need to see the formulas, hiding them creates a cleaner, more user-friendly interface.
Branding: When creating templates for distribution, hiding formulas maintains a consistent look and feel.

Note: Hiding formulas doesn't protect your data from being viewed. Anyone with access to the spreadsheet can still see the formulas by changing the view settings.

Methods to Hide Formulas

OpenOffice Calc offers several methods to hide formulas while keeping calculated values visible:

Method 1: Hide Formulas in Cells

Select the cells containing formulas you want to hide.
Right-click and choose Format Cells.
In the Format Cell dialog, go to the Numbers tab.
Select the Text category.
Click OK to apply the format.

This method converts the formula results to text, effectively hiding the formula while displaying the value.

Method 2: Hide Formulas Using Conditional Formatting

Select the cells with formulas.
Right-click and choose Conditional Formatting.
In the Conditional Formatting dialog, create a rule that formats cells based on their content.
Set the format to display the cell value as text.

This approach provides more control over which cells are formatted as text.

Method 3: Use the "Show Values" Option

Go to the View menu.
Select Show Values.

This temporarily hides all formulas in the worksheet, displaying only the calculated values. This is a temporary solution that doesn't permanently hide the formulas.

Formula used: The "Show Values" method is a view setting that doesn't alter the actual cell content. To permanently hide formulas, use the text formatting methods described above.

Viewing Calculated Values Without Formulas

After hiding formulas, you can still view the calculated values in several ways:

Using the Formula Bar

When you click on a cell that displays a value (but has a hidden formula), the formula bar will show the actual formula. This allows you to see the calculation while the worksheet displays only the result.

Using the Function Wizard

Right-click on a cell and select Function Wizard to see the formula used to calculate the value.

Using the Formula Auditing Tools

OpenOffice Calc provides tools to trace precedents and dependents, which can help you understand the calculation process even when formulas are hidden.

Comparison of Formula Hiding Methods
Method	Permanent?	Effect on Calculations	Visibility to Users
Text Formatting	Yes	No effect on calculations	Only value visible
Conditional Formatting	Yes	No effect on calculations	Only value visible
Show Values	No (temporary)	No effect on calculations	Only values visible

Practical Example

Let's look at a practical example of hiding formulas in OpenOffice Calc:

Scenario: Sales Report

You have a sales report with calculations for total sales, average sales, and sales growth percentage. You want to display these results but hide the underlying formulas.

Steps to Implement:

Create a worksheet with sales data in columns A through D.
In column E, create formulas to calculate total sales, average sales, and sales growth.
Select the cells in column E (E2:E10).
Right-click and choose Format Cells.
In the Format Cell dialog, go to the Numbers tab.
Select the Text category.
Click OK to apply the format.

Now when you save and share the spreadsheet, the calculated values in column E will appear as text, while the formulas remain hidden.

Example calculation: If cell E2 contains the formula =SUM(A2:D2), after formatting, the cell will display the sum as text while the formula remains hidden.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When hiding formulas in OpenOffice Calc, be aware of these common pitfalls:

1. Forgetting to Update References

If you hide formulas and then move or delete cells, the references in other formulas may break. Always update references when making structural changes to your spreadsheet.

2. Overlooking Print Settings

When printing a spreadsheet with hidden formulas, ensure the print settings are configured to show only the values you want to display.

3. Not Testing the Spreadsheet

After hiding formulas, thoroughly test the spreadsheet to ensure all calculations still work correctly and that the hidden formulas don't affect other parts of the document.

4. Ignoring Security Implications

Remember that hiding formulas doesn't provide true security. Anyone with access to the spreadsheet can still view the formulas by changing the view settings.

FAQ

Can I hide formulas in OpenOffice Calc without converting them to text?

Yes, you can use the "Show Values" option in the View menu to temporarily hide all formulas while keeping the calculated values visible. This is a view setting that doesn't permanently alter the cells.

Will hiding formulas affect my calculations?

No, hiding formulas using text formatting or conditional formatting doesn't affect your calculations. The formulas are still present in the spreadsheet, just not visible to users.

Can I hide formulas in only specific cells?

Yes, you can select individual cells or ranges before applying the text formatting or conditional formatting to hide formulas in specific areas of your spreadsheet.

Is there a way to hide formulas without affecting the appearance of the spreadsheet?

Yes, using the "Show Values" option in the View menu provides a temporary solution that doesn't permanently change the appearance of your spreadsheet.

Can I unhide formulas after I've hidden them?

Yes, you can reverse the process by selecting the cells and removing the text formatting or conditional formatting rules that were applied to hide the formulas.