As a finance professional who frequently works with Excel reports, I often encounter situations where I need to remove formulas while keeping the calculated results. In the past, I would manually copy and paste as “values,” but with large spreadsheets, this method was not only inefficient but also prone to errors. That was until I discovered the Datasheet Formula Remover Excel add-in, which made this process incredibly simple! Today, I’d like to share my experience using it.
Why Do I Need to Remove Excel Formulas?
In my daily work, I encounter the following scenarios where I must delete formulas and retain only the calculated results:
1. Protecting Core Business Algorithms
Our company’s financial models involve complex cost-calculation logic. If shared directly with suppliers or clients, this could leak proprietary information. With this add-in, I can clear all formulas with one click, leaving only the final data to ensure sensitive calculations aren’t copied.
2. Improving File Performance
Some historical reports contain extensive cross-sheet references and array formulas, causing long calculation times every time the file is opened. After removing the formulas, the file size shrinks, and the opening speed improves significantly—no more waiting for Excel to “freeze”!
3. Preventing Accidental Modifications
Once, a budget sheet I shared with my team was accidentally edited, causing formula errors and incorrect data. Since then, I’ve learned to use this tool to clear all formulas before final submission, ensuring data can’t be tampered with unintentionally.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility
Some of our clients use Mac or older Excel versions, where advanced functions (like XLOOKUP) may not work. After removing formulas, the data displays correctly on all devices, avoiding #REF! errors.
How Did Datasheet Formula Remover Make This Effortless?
The biggest advantage of this tool is that it requires no installation—just load it directly from the Excel Add-ins store, and the operation is extremely simple!
1. Installing the Add-in
- Open Excel (supports 2013+, Office 365, Mac, and online versions).
- Click “Insert” or “Home” → “Add-ins”.
- Search for “Datasheet Formula Remover” and click to add.
- Once loaded, a new “Datasheet Formula Remover” tab will appear in Excel.
2. Steps to Use
- Back up your file (critical! Avoid accidental errors).
- Check “I have backed up my file” (to confirm you’ve saved a copy).
- Select the range where formulas should be cleared (can be the entire sheet or a specific area).
- Click “Go”, and instantly, all formulas convert to static values while keeping the formatting intact!
My Usage Tips
✅ Always Back Up First!
Even though the tool is stable, data is invaluable—I always save a copy of the original file before making changes.
✅ Process Large Sheets in Batches
For extremely large spreadsheets (e.g., 100,000 rows), I process them in sections to prevent Excel from freezing.
✅ Keep the Add-in Updated
I subscribe to official updates to ensure the tool stays optimized and avoids compatibility issues.
Video Guide of installing the add-in:
Conclusion
Since using Datasheet Formula Remover, I no longer worry about formula leaks, file lag, or accidental data modifications. It has saved me tons of time, making Excel data processing more efficient and secure!
If you also frequently need to remove Excel formulas while preserving formatting, I highly recommend trying this add-in—it’s incredibly convenient! 🎯
Do you have any Excel data-handling tips? Share them in the comments! 🚀