WPS Show Formulas on Windows lets you switch between formula text and calculated results in a worksheet; this guide covers 2 core tasks, with 2 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 2 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Show Formulas is a worksheet viewing feature in WPS Office for Windows that lets you switch an entire worksheet between formula text and calculated results. If you need to show formulas in WPS on Windows for review or training, this view makes spreadsheet logic easier to inspect.
Core capabilities include:
- Use the Show Formulas button on the Formulas tab to switch the current worksheet view.
- Use the
Ctrl+~shortcut to quickly toggle between formula view and result view. - Review formula logic, trace references, and present calculation steps more clearly in a spreadsheet workflow.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | A Windows device |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory network connection is required for local spreadsheet viewing |
| Other | You need to be able to open a WPS spreadsheet file and enter worksheet editing view |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install Check | Launch WPS Office, open a spreadsheet, and confirm that the Show Formulas entry is available on the Formulas tab |
Source: WPS download center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In WPS Spreadsheet, you can use the Show Formulas button on the Formulas tab or press Ctrl+~ to show formulas across the current worksheet. | Excel supports Formulas > Show Formulas and the CTRL + ` shortcut to switch between formulas and results. | Google Sheets officially documents formula entry and editing, including range selection and highlighting during editing, but the retrieved official page does not describe a direct worksheet-wide show-formulas toggle in the same way. | Notion formulas are used in database properties through a formula editor rather than a worksheet-wide formula display mode. | Adobe Acrobat focuses on calculated fields in PDF forms rather than a worksheet-wide formula display mode. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: WPS provides both a ribbon entry and a keyboard shortcut for worksheet-wide formula review. | Compared with WPS: Excel also provides both methods and additionally documents hiding formulas with worksheet protection. | Compared with WPS: Google emphasizes formula creation and editing help; the retrieved official page does not clearly document a worksheet-wide toggle equivalent. | Compared with WPS: Notion formulas are designed for database properties, not side-by-side review of formulas across a spreadsheet grid. | Compared with WPS: Adobe is oriented to PDF form calculations instead of spreadsheet auditing. |
| Official Source | — | Display or hide formulas | Add formulas & functions | Intro to formulas | Configure form field calculations in Acrobat |
Overall Conclusion
If you need to review formulas across a worksheet, WPS offers a direct and familiar spreadsheet workflow with both a ribbon command and a keyboard shortcut. Compared with the other tools listed here, it is more closely aligned with worksheet-based formula inspection, training, and troubleshooting.
Use Cases
| # | Scenario | Target Users | Core Pain Point | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review financial calculation sheets | Finance staff | Need to verify whether references and formulas are correct | Turn on Show Formulas to inspect formula text across the sheet |
| 2 | Troubleshoot unexpected results | Data workers | It is hard to locate the formula behind an unusual result quickly | Switch to formula view with the ribbon or shortcut |
| 3 | Demonstrate formulas in training | Teachers and trainers | Need to show how formulas are written instead of only showing results | Display formulas across the worksheet during explanation |
| 4 | Check templates before delivery | Template creators | Need to confirm that key formulas were not changed | Toggle formula view for a final review |
| 5 | Compare formulas across columns | General office users | It is difficult to compare many adjacent formulas by result alone | Show formulas and compare the written expressions directly |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature | Free User | WPS Member |
|---|---|---|
| Show Formulas toggle | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Shortcut to switch formula display | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Additional PDF tools, templates, and extended benefits | Partially limited | More benefits available |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Use Case | Recommended Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Daily formula review and checking | Free version | The Show Formulas feature itself is available without membership |
| Broader office work that needs more advanced cross-module benefits | WPS membership | Membership can be useful when you also need additional benefits beyond basic spreadsheet work |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page