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Value#!

resolvedResolved · Low Priority · Version 2003

Stephanie has attended:
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Excel Intermediate course
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Value#!

When dealing with text in some spreadsheets the value#! has appeared even though there is no formula. I have had to change the cell formating is there a way to avoid this?

Edited on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 08:18

RE: Value#!

Hi Stephahie
Thank you for your post, and welcome to the forum;
Firstly ensure that your cells do not contain a space (space bar) Excel will return #VALUE! if you try to perform a calculation which includes cells which may have a space character; however if this is not the case; I have created a little example which might help:

Although some functions correctly evaluate cells and ignore text strings, if you add the cells by using arithmetic operators such as:

Addition (+)
Subtraction (-)
Multiplication (*)
Division (/)

...an error value may occur.

Instead of using an individual mathematical operator, use its equivalent worksheet function instead:

SUM (adds)
PRODUCT (multiplies)
QUOTIENT (divides)

For example, if you type the following information in cells A1:A7 of a worksheet

A1: 10
A2: text
A3: 20

A4: =A1+A2+A3 - incorrect
A5: =SUM(A1+A2+A3) - incorrect

A6: =SUM(A1,A2,A3) - correct
A7: =SUM(A1:A3) - correct

...the formulas in cells A4 and A5 return a #VALUE! error; however, cells A6 and A7 return the correct value of 30.

I hope that helps, regards Pete


 

Excel tip:

Changing Excel file and worksheet defaults

The appearance of any new Excel files or any new worksheets that are inserted into a file are controlled by two template files, Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt.

By opening, modifying and saving these templates you can change the default settings for all new files and/or all newly inserted sheets.

Use Book.xlt to make change to defaults for new workbooks; and Sheet.xlt to change defaults for sheets.

If you can't find either of these files on your computer, you can create and save them yourself.

You can do this simply by creating a new workbook with the setting you want to use as your defaults; then saving them with the appropriate name in the XLStart folder. If you are using Office 2003, this is usually found in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\XLStart.

View all Excel hints and tips


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