"=NETWORKDAYS" formula returns a "#NAME?" error message - SOLUTION

[Guest]

If you get the "#NAME?" error when using the "=NETWORKDAYS" formula to
determine the number of working days between two dates, do the following:

1) Format two additional columns as "date" fields, but be sure to select the
"full date" option that does NOT have an ASTERISK ( * ) at the beginning
[*3/14/2001]. The choice with the asterisk is at the top of the list, but
the correct date format choice [3/14/2001] is located at the BOTTOM of the
list.

2) Select & copy the dates from the first two columns and use "paste
special" to paste them into the two newly formatted columns specifying "as
VALUEs".

3) The "=NETWORKDAYS" formula will now show the resulting number of days
instead of the error message.

This had been stumping me for quite a while and I could NOT find the answer
in any of the Help topics or in the help questions/replies. I stumbled on
the solution by accident and just had to share it! YAYAYAY!

-K.T.

 

[Jerry W. Lewis]

NETWORKDAYS() is not an Excel function, it is an Analysis ToolPak (ATP)
function. As documented in Help, #NAME! occurs when ATP is either not
installed or not loaded. Your directions do nothing to address that
basic issue.

My best guess is that the worksheet (with #NAME! errors showing) was
saved in a later version of Excel that did not have the ATP. You then
opened it in an earlier version of Excel (which will not automatically
recalculate sheets saved by a later version) that did have the ATP.
Your series of steps merely forced a recalc that could have been done
more easily by replacing all occurrances of "=" with "=".

Jerry