Don't display errors like #VALUE! ???

charlie79 · Mar 11th, 2002, 09:52 AM

I'm creating an Excel app that gets a lot of data from another application (PI-System). I am doing some calculations and in some cases there are empty cells in the range that I'm doing a calculation on. Eventually, the empty cells might have data in them. I don't want the user to see the #VALUE! in the formulated cell. Help please!

Dave Hawley · Mar 11th, 2002, 09:58 AM

How about

=IF(ISERR("any function"),"","Any function")

Or if you only want them hidden Conditional Formatting.

Mark W. · Mar 11th, 2002, 10:14 AM

Quote:

On 2002-03-11 08:52, charlie79 wrote:
I'm creating an Excel app that gets a lot of data from another application (PI-System). I am doing some calculations and in some cases there are empty cells in the range that I'm doing a calculation on. Eventually, the empty cells might have data in them. I don't want the user to see the #VALUE! in the formulated cell. Help please!

I doubt that you have just empty cells in the range -- empty cells wouldn't cause the #VALUE! error. Generally, functions and arithemtic operatiors will treat an empty cell as 0.

So, find out what's really there and deal with 'em. Arbitrarily, ignoring a #VALUE! error is never a good idea. What calculation are you performing?

[ This Message was edited by: Mark W. on 2002-03-11 09:46 ]

g_erhard · Mar 11th, 2002, 10:29 AM

I've had to deal with that problem, in that sometimes a cell is empty, and sometimes it's not. I use the

IF(condition,true_action,false_action)

function to determine if a cell has a valid entry, and if it does, run the formula. If not, pass the "empty value" or assign a placeholder.

You do have to use this "value checking" routine on formulae that are 'downstream', but if you set all your formulae up right the first time, your users never have to see a #VALUE error in the results again.

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Mar 11th, 2002, 09:52 AM	#1
charlie79 Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 97	I'm creating an Excel app that gets a lot of data from another application (PI-System). I am doing some calculations and in some cases there are empty cells in the range that I'm doing a calculation on. Eventually, the empty cells might have data in them. I don't want the user to see the #VALUE! in the formulated cell. Help please!

Mar 11th, 2002, 09:58 AM	#2
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	How about =IF(ISERR("any function"),"","Any function") Or if you only want them hidden Conditional Formatting.

Mar 11th, 2002, 10:29 AM	#4
g_erhard New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Ramon CA Posts: 23	I've had to deal with that problem, in that sometimes a cell is empty, and sometimes it's not. I use the IF(condition,true_action,false_action) function to determine if a cell has a valid entry, and if it does, run the formula. If not, pass the "empty value" or assign a placeholder. You do have to use this "value checking" routine on formulae that are 'downstream', but if you set all your formulae up right the first time, your users never have to see a #VALUE error in the results again.