How to correct formula error?

[Doug Boufford]

http://tinyurl.com/47h8lb

Using Excel 2003 in WIN XP
Link above has a pic of part of the spreadsheet showing errors

Simple formula adding cells returns a #value! error.
If I just enter 0.00 in each cell referenced in the formula, the error
is solved (as in row 22. How can I set the options so that if a cell is
just missing amounts, the formula will still work correctly?
I could fill in 0.00 in empty cells, but there are roughly 1500 rows of
data............
TIA
Doug

 

[Rick Rothstein \(MVP - VB\)]

You don't show us what is in H24. Anyway, if any of those cells have text in
them (including a blank space, which wouldn't be visible), then that would
generate the error you are getting; so that is the first thing you should
check

Rick

 

[Doug Boufford]

Rick
H24 is empty. I have gone thorough & formatted all cells involved in the
formulae as numbers. None of these cells have text typed into them.
How can I check to see if a text blank space is entered - without
looking at 5 columns x 1500 rows.?
Thanks

 

[Rick Rothstein \(MVP - VB\)]

Before tackling all 1500 rows of data, I figured we could try and find out
what was wrong on Row 24 (the one you highlighted in your sample)... the
odds are whatever is producing the error there probably is at the root of
the problem elsewhere. Did you click in each of the H24, K24, L24, M24 and
N24 to see if there were blanks in them? Also, I guess I should ask to be
sure, are there any formulas in those cells or are they pure user-entered
data?

Rick

 

[Doug Boufford]

Clicked in each cell & saw nothing. If I entered 0.00 in each "empty"
cell, then formula was valid. (This is a spreadsheet I made up for a
client who said that they "Excel experts" and who were supposed to be
entering data) Found the trick of entering a 1.00 in blank cell & doing
Edit copy, then Paste Special - Multiply to rest of Range. Still leaves
some lines where formula is #Valid!, but "cures" most of the probs.
Doug