How to find explanation of Excel error values in Help?

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curiousgeorge408

Arrgghh!! I have forgotten what search key to enter to find the
explanation of Excel error values in Help (offline only). How do I do
that?

I have the information in a book. I not need a summary. I just
prefer to know how to find it on the computer -- again, offline only.

I have tried all sorts of combinations of "about error", "error
values", "formula errors", "errors" -- all to no avail.
 
Enter #NULL! in the Index box, and the first item in the Topic box is
Troubleshoot formulas and error values - from here you can see them
all listed in the right-hand panel.

This is with XL2000 - it might be different in later versions.

Hope this helps.

Pete
 
Enter #NULL! in the Index box, and the first item in the Topic box is
Troubleshoot formulas and error values - from here you can see them
all listed in the right-hand panel.

This is with XL2000 - it might be different in later versions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the effort. Unfortunately, that does not seem to get me
any closer to the information. I should have said that I am using
Office Excel 2003. Apparently, Help has been "improved" since XL2000
<sigh>.

Now that you mention it, I do believe I stumbled across the desired
information by typing #VALUE or such. But not today <wink>. I even
tried enabling Microsoft Online and searching there, to no avail. I
must admit I did not try very hard, since I prefer to find the
information offline.
 
With Excel 2003, when I follow the advice to enter #NULL! into help, one of
the first topics listed is "ERROR.TYPE worksheet function". (Similarly if
you use #VALUE! in help.) Is that what you are looking for? If so, I
don't know why it isn't appearing in Help for you with the same Excel
version.
 
With Excel 2003, when I follow the advice to enter #NULL! into help, one of
the first topics listed is "ERROR.TYPE worksheet function". (Similarly if
you use #VALUE! in help.) Is that what you are looking for?
Click to expand...

My version of the ERROR.TYPE() help page has a list of those error
values, not an explanation of them. I have attached the help page
below. Does yours look significantly differently?

Of course, I could enter each error value into the Help search field
and go to each "Correct a #... error" link, which describes the
conditions that cause that error.

But I thought I had found a single Help page that had a synopsis of
each error value -- that is, a short explanation. Something like this
(from my book):

#DIV/0! Formula is trying to divide by zero
#N/A Formula uses or refers to a cell that uses the NA()
function.
(Also some other conditions, such as a LOOKUP error.)
#NAME? Formula uses a name that Excel does not recognize.
#NULL! Formula uses an intersection of two ranges that do not
intersect.
#NUM! Function argument is outside its valid range of values.
#REF! Formula refers to a cell that is not valid.
#VALUE! Formula includes an argument or operand of the wrong type.

However, on second thought, since some knowledgable Excel users are
unable to find it themselves, I am beginning to think that perhaps I
only found that information (in one place) in my book.


-----

ERROR.TYPE

See Also

Returns a number corresponding to one of the error values in Microsoft
Excel or returns the #N/A error if no error exists. You can use
ERROR.TYPE in an IF function to test for an error value and return a
text string, such as a message, instead of the error value.

Syntax

ERROR.TYPE(error_val)

Error_val is the error value whose identifying number you want to
find. Although error_val can be the actual error value, it will
usually be a reference to a cell containing a formula that you want to
test.

If error_val is ERROR.TYPE returns
#NULL! 1
#DIV/0! 2
#VALUE! 3
#REF! 4
#NAME? 5
#NUM! 6
#N/A 7
Anything else #N/A

Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank
worksheet.

[.... elided ....]
 
No, my help page looks the same as yours. I don't think I've seen a single
page in Excel help that has the information the way you list it rom your
book, though the information for each error type is given separately in
Help.

The info from your book, presumably, is on-line at
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3507.html
--
David Biddulph

With Excel 2003, when I follow the advice to enter #NULL! into help, one
of
the first topics listed is "ERROR.TYPE worksheet function". (Similarly
if
you use #VALUE! in help.) Is that what you are looking for?
Click to expand...

My version of the ERROR.TYPE() help page has a list of those error
values, not an explanation of them. I have attached the help page
below. Does yours look significantly differently?

Of course, I could enter each error value into the Help search field
and go to each "Correct a #... error" link, which describes the
conditions that cause that error.

But I thought I had found a single Help page that had a synopsis of
each error value -- that is, a short explanation. Something like this
(from my book):

#DIV/0! Formula is trying to divide by zero
#N/A Formula uses or refers to a cell that uses the NA()
function.
(Also some other conditions, such as a LOOKUP error.)
#NAME? Formula uses a name that Excel does not recognize.
#NULL! Formula uses an intersection of two ranges that do not
intersect.
#NUM! Function argument is outside its valid range of values.
#REF! Formula refers to a cell that is not valid.
#VALUE! Formula includes an argument or operand of the wrong type.

However, on second thought, since some knowledgable Excel users are
unable to find it themselves, I am beginning to think that perhaps I
only found that information (in one place) in my book.


-----

ERROR.TYPE

See Also

Returns a number corresponding to one of the error values in Microsoft
Excel or returns the #N/A error if no error exists. You can use
ERROR.TYPE in an IF function to test for an error value and return a
text string, such as a message, instead of the error value.

Syntax

ERROR.TYPE(error_val)

Error_val is the error value whose identifying number you want to
find. Although error_val can be the actual error value, it will
usually be a reference to a cell containing a formula that you want to
test.

If error_val is ERROR.TYPE returns
#NULL! 1
#DIV/0! 2
#VALUE! 3
#REF! 4
#NAME? 5
#NUM! 6
#N/A 7
Anything else #N/A

Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank
worksheet.

[.... elided ....]
Click to expand...
 
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