Jim,

The reason for a 'Cycle' error is that a sum formula is referring to itself. This of course is not allowed.

Try clicking on the 'button' that is above row 1 and to the left of column A, to select all. Then try Format / Column / Unhide. This should unhide all columns.

If this doesn't work, then you cannot see column A because it has been set to have a column width of 0. In this case, try moving the cursor at the left edge of the cell that displays the column B, and the cursor should turn into a vertical line with arrows pointing to the left and right. Double-click to expand the column, which will resize column A.

I suspect the same as Bruce: That you have a SmartSheet and you are trying to insert a sum on a Generated Row, which is getting deleted when the form is refreshed. If you have toolbar buttons with up and down arrows (to the left of the department selection) and they are active, this verifies that your form is a SmartSheet.