averages that ignore #VALUE! cells

[ericaamousseau]

I am making a spreadsheet in excel that will add subtract times and then
average the totals of multiples of these. My problem is that some of the
tiems do not need to be entered causing a # VALUE! in teh line where my
subtraction formula. This is fine and needs to stay this way. My problem is
that the average then has a #VALUE! instead of an average. How do I skip
over cells that have the #VALUE! ? I ammaking htis spreadsheet for someone
else, so I can not correct it each time this happens. This is what my sheet
is like:
A B C
1 1:15 1:30 15 =(B1-A1)*1440
2 12:30 1:00 30 =(B2-A2)*1440
3 3:15 N/A #VALUE! =(B3-A3)*1440
4 #VALUE! =AVERAGE(C1:C3)

Any suggestions to get the average to actaully average the amounts that are
not #VALUE! ??? Any help would be fantastic!!

 

[Bob Phillips]

=AVERAGE(IF(NOT(ISERROR(C1:C3)),C1:C3))

which is an array formula, it should be committed with Ctrl-Shift-Enter, not
just Enter.
Excel will automatically enclose the formula in braces (curly brackets), do
not try to do this manually.
When editing the formula, it must again be array-entered.

Note that you cannot use a whole column in array formulae (prior to excel
2007), but must use an explicit range.

--
---
HTH

Bob


(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

 

[T. Valko]

Try one of these...

This is an array formula** :

=AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(C1:C3),C1:C3))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER)

Or this normally entered formula:

=SUMIF(C1:C3,"<>#VALUE!")/COUNT(C1:C3)

This formula will only work if the errors are of the #VALUE! type.

 

[ericaamousseau]

This is perfect, thanks so much. One more questions though, how do I get it
to still ignore the cells with no numbers? It averaged all of the cells, not
just the ones without an error or with a value. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[ericaamousseau]

Great thanks! I really like the firt formula, but now the average is
including cells that do not have a vaule. How can I use this same formula,
but have the average only include cells that have numbers in them? Thanks
again for all the help!

 

[T. Valko]

Try it like this (aaray entered):

=AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(C1:C3),C1:C3))

Or:

=IF(COUNT(C1:C3),AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(C1:C3),C1:C3)),"")

 

[ericaamousseau]

The first one is perfect! Thank you somuch for your help!

 

[T. Valko]

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!