Correct a #N/A error

This error occurs when a value is not available to a function or formula.

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Missing data, and #N/A or NA() has been entered in its place

Replace #N/A with new data.

 NOTE    You can enter #N/A in those cells where data is not yet available. Formulas that refer to those
cells will then return #N/A instead of attempting to calculate a value.

Giving an inappropriate value for the lookup_value argument in the HLOOKUP, LOOKUP,
MATCH, or VLOOKUP worksheet function

Make sure that the lookup_value argument (argument: The values that a function uses to perform
operations or calculations. The type of argument a function uses is specific to the function. Common
arguments that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell references, and names.) is the
correct type of value — for example, a value or a cell reference, but not a range reference.

Using the VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, or MATCH worksheet function to locate a value in an unsorted
table

By default, functions that look up information in tables must be sorted in ascending order. However, the
VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP worksheet functions contain a range_lookup argument (argument: The
values that a function uses to perform operations or calculations. The type of argument a function uses
is specific to the function. Common arguments that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell
references, and names.) that instructs the function to find an exact match even if the table is not sorted.
To find an exact match, set the range_lookup argument to FALSE.

The MATCH worksheet function contains a match_type argument that specifies the order the list must
be sorted in to find a match. If the function cannot find a match, try changing the match_type argument.
To find an exact match, set the match_type argument to 0.

Using an argument in an array formula that is not the same number of rows or columns as the range
that contains the array formula

If the array formula (array formula: A formula that performs multiple calculations on one or more sets
of values, and then returns either a single result or multiple results. Array formulas are enclosed
between braces { } and are entered by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.) has been entered into multiple
cells, make sure that the ranges referenced by the formula have the same number of rows and columns,
or enter the array formula into fewer cells. For example, if the array formula has been entered into a
range 15 rows high (C1:C15) and the formula refers to a range 10 rows high (A1:A10), the range
C11:C15 will display #N/A. To correct this error, enter the formula into a smaller range (for example,
C1:C10), or change the range to which the formula refers to the same number of rows (for example,
A1:A15).
 Omitting one or more required arguments from a built-in or custom worksheet function

Enter all arguments (argument: The values that a function uses to perform operations or calculations.
The type of argument a function uses is specific to the function. Common arguments that are used
within functions include numbers, text, cell references, and names.) in the function.

Using a custom worksheet function that is not available

Make sure that the workbook that contains the worksheet function is open and the function is working
properly.

Correct a #DIV/0! error

This error occurs when a number is divided by zero (0).

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Entering a formula that contains explicit division by zero (0) — for example, =5/0

Change the divisor to a number other than zero.

Using the cell reference to a blank cell or to a cell that contains zero as a divisor

 NOTE    If the operand (operand: Items on either side of an operator in a formula. In Excel, operands
can be values, cell references, names, labels, and functions.) is a cell that is blank, Microsoft Office
Excel interprets the blank as zero.

 Change the cell reference to another cell.

 Enter a value other than zero in the cell used as a divisor.

 Enter the value #N/A into the cell referenced as the divisor, which changes the result of
the formula to #N/A from #DIV/0! to denote that the divisor value is not available.

 Prevent the error value from displaying by using the IF worksheet function. For example,
if the formula that creates the error is =A5/B5, use =IF(B5=0,"",A5/B5) instead. The two quotation
marks represent an empty text string.

Running a macro that uses a function or a formula that returns #DIV/0!

Make sure that the divisor in the function or formula is not zero or blank.

Correct a #NAME? error

This error occurs when Microsoft Office Excel doesn't recognize text in a formula.

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

 Using the EUROCONVERT function without the Euro Currency Tools add-in being loaded

The EUROCONVERT function requires the Euro Currency Tools add-in (address: The path to an
object, document, file, page, or other destination. An address can be a URL (Web address) or a UNC
path (network address), and can include a specific location within a file, such as a Word bookmark or
an Excel cell range.).

Install and load the Euro Currency Tools Add-in add-in

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button , click Excel Options, and then click the Add-ins
category.

2. Select Excel Add-ins in the Manage list box, and then click Go.

3. In the Add-Ins available list, select the Euro Currency Tools check box, and then click
OK.

Using a name that does not exist

Make sure that the name (name: A word or string of characters that represents a cell, range of cells,
formula, or constant value. Use easy-to-understand names, such as Products, to refer to hard to
understand ranges, such as Sales!C20:C30.) exists. On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group,
click Name Manager, and then see if the name is listed. If the name is not listed, add the name by
clicking Define Name.

Misspelling the name

Verify the spelling. Select the name in the formula bar (formula bar: A bar at the top of the Excel
window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts. Displays the constant value or
formula stored in the active cell.) , press F3, click the name that you want to use, and then
click OK.

Misspelling the name of a function

Correct the spelling. Insert the correct function name into the formula by clicking Function Wizard in
the Function Library group on the Formulas tab.

Entering text in a formula without enclosing the text in double quotation marks

Excel tries to interpret your entry as a name even though you intended it to be used as text.

Enclose text in the formula in double quotation marks. For example, the following formula joins the
piece of text "The total amount is " with the value in cell B50:

="The total amount is "&B50

Omitting a colon (:) in a range reference

Make sure that all range references in the formula use a colon (:); for example, SUM(A1:C10).
 Referencing another sheet not enclosed in single quotation marks

If the formula refers to values or cells on other worksheets or workbooks and the name of the other
workbook or worksheet contains a nonalphabetical character or a space, you must enclose its name
within single quotation marks ( ' ).

Opening a workbook with a call to a user-defined function (UDF)

A user-defined function (UDF) is called from the workbook but is not available on the client computer.
A developer can implement a UDF in several ways. For more information, see Visual Basic help and
the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Software Development Kit (SDK).

Correct a #VALUE! error

This error occurs when the wrong type of argument (argument: The values that a function uses to perform
operations or calculations. The type of argument a function uses is specific to the function. Common arguments
that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell references, and names.) or operand (operand: Items on
either side of an operator in a formula. In Excel, operands can be values, cell references, names, labels, and
functions.) is used.

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Entering text when the formula requires a number or a logical value, such as TRUE or FALSE

Microsoft Office Excel cannot translate the text into the correct data type. Make sure that the formula or
function is correct for the required operand or argument, and that the cells that are referenced by the
formula contain valid values. For example, if cell A5 contains a number and cell A6 contains the text
"Not available", the formula =A5+A6 will return the error #VALUE!.

Entering or editing an array formula, and then pressing ENTER

Select the cell or range of cells that contains the array formula (array formula: A formula that performs
multiple calculations on one or more sets of values, and then returns either a single result or multiple
results. Array formulas are enclosed between braces { } and are entered by pressing
CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.), press F2 to edit the formula, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

Entering a cell reference, a formula, or a function as an array constant

Make sure that the array constant (constant: A value that is not calculated and, therefore, does not
change. For example, the number 210, and the text "Quarterly Earnings" are constants. An expression,
or a value resulting from an expression, is not a constant.) is not a cell reference, formula, or function.

Supplying a range to an operator or a function that requires a single value, not a range

 Change the range to a single value.

 Change the range to include either the same row or the same column that contains the
formula.

Using a matrix that is not valid in one of the matrix worksheet functions
 Make sure that the dimensions of the matrix (matrix: A rectangular array of values or a range of cells
that is combined with other arrays or ranges to produce multiple sums or products. Excel has predefined
matrix functions that can produce the sums or products.) are correct for the matrix arguments.

Running a macro that enters a function that returns #VALUE!

Make sure that the function is not using an incorrect argument.

Correct a #NUM! error

This error occurs with invalid numeric values in a formula or function.

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Using an unacceptable argument in a function that requires a numeric argument

Make sure that the arguments  used in the function are numbers. For example, even if the value you
want to enter is $1,000, enter 1000 in the formula.

Using a worksheet function that iterates, such as IRR or RATE, and the function cannot find a result

 Use a different starting value for the worksheet function.

 Change the number of times Microsoft Office Excel iterates formulas.

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button , click Excel Options, and then click the
Formulas category.

2. In the Calculation options section, select the Enable iterative calculation

check box.

3. To set the maximum number of times that Excel will recalculate, type the
number of iterations in the Maximum Iterations box. The higher the number of iterations,
the more time that Excel needs to calculate a worksheet.

4. To set the maximum amount of change that you will accept between calculation
results, type the amount in the Maximum Change box. The smaller the number, the more
accurate the result and the more time that Excel needs to calculate a worksheet.

Entering a formula that produces a number that is too large or too small to be represented in Excel

Change the formula so that its result is between -1*10307 and 1*10307.

Correct a #REF! error

This error occurs when a cell reference (cell reference: The set of coordinates that a cell occupies on a
worksheet. For example, the reference of the cell that appears at the intersection of column B and row 3 is B3.)
is not valid.
1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Deleting cells referred to by other formulas, or pasting moved cells over cells referred to by other
formulas

Change the formulas, or restore the cells on the worksheet by clicking Undo immediately after you
delete or paste the cells.

Using an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) link to a program that is not running

Start the program.

Linking to a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) topic such as "system" that is not available

Make sure that you're using the correct DDE topic.

Running a macro that enters a function that returns #REF!

Check the function to see if an argument (argument: The values that a function uses to perform
operations or calculations. The type of argument a function uses is specific to the function. Common
arguments that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell references, and names.) refers to a
cell or range of cells that is not valid. For example, if the macro enters a function that refers to a cell
above the function, and the cell that contains the function is in row 1, the function will return #REF!
because there are no cells above row 1.

Correct a #NULL! error

This error occurs when you specify an intersection of two areas that do not intersect. The intersection operator
is a space between references.

1. Optionally, click the cell that displays the error, click the button that appears , and then click
Show Calculation Steps if it appears.

2. Review the following possible causes and solutions.

Using an incorrect range operator

 To refer to a contiguous range of cells, use a colon (:) to separate the reference to the first
cell in the range from the reference to the last cell in the range. For example, SUM(A1:A10) refers
to the range from cell A1 to cell A10 inclusive.

 To refer to two areas that don't intersect, use the union operator, the comma (,). For
example, if the formula sums two ranges, make sure that a comma separates the two ranges
(SUM(A1:A10,C1:C10)).

Ranges do not intersect

Change the reference so that it intersects.

 When you enter or edit a formula , cell references and the borders around the corresponding cells are
color-coded.

Color-coded cell references

The first cell reference is B3, the color is blue, and the cell range has a blue border with square
corners.

The second cell reference is C3, the color is green, and the cell range has a green border with square
corners.

 If there are no squares at each corner of the color-coded border, then the reference is to a
named  range.

 If there are squares at each corner of the color-coded border, then the reference is not to a
named range.

Do one of the following:

Change references that are not to a named range

 Double-click the cell that contains the formula you want to change. Microsoft Office
Excel highlights each cell or range of cells with a different color.

 Do one of the following:

 To move a cell or range reference to a different cell or range, drag the color-
coded border of the cell or range to the new cell or range.

 To include more or fewer cells in a reference, drag a corner of the border.

 In the formula, select the reference, and type a new one.

 Press ENTER.

Change references that are to a named range

 Do one of the following:

 Select the range of cells that contains formulas in which you want to replace
references with names.
  Select a single cell to change the references to names in all formulas on the
worksheet.

 On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click the arrow next to Defined
Name, and then click Apply Names.

 In the Apply Names box, click one or more names.

Correct a ##### error

This error occurs when a column is not wide enough, or a negative date or time is used.

Review the following possible causes and solutions.

The column is not wide enough to display the content

Do one or more of the following:

Increase the width of the column  

1. Select the column by clicking the column header.

2. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, point to Columns, and then click
AutoFit Selection.

TIP  Alternatively, you can double-click the boundary to the right of the column heading.

Shrink the contents to fit the column  

3. Select the column.

4. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, click Cells, and then click the
Alignment tab.

5. Select the Shrink to fit check box.

Apply a different number format  

In some cases, you can change the cell's number format to make the number fit within the existing cell
width. For example, you can decrease the number of decimal places after the decimal point.

Dates and times are negative numbers

1. If you are using the 1900 date system, dates and times in Microsoft Office Excel must be
positive values.

2. When you subtract dates and times, make sure that you build the formula correctly.

3. If the formula is correct but the result is still a negative value, you can display the value by
formatting the cell with a format that is not a date or time format.

1. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, click Cells, and then click
the Number tab.
2. Select a format that is not a date or time format.