"Global" IFERROR instruction (so I don't have to type it in everywhere?)

[d0rian]

In my hairier spreadsheets, I make liberal use of IFERROR (since so many formulas that I copy down result in errors), so a ton of cells have the syntax of =IFERROR(formula,"--") just so I don't have unsightly errors everywhere.

Instead of adding that syntax to every formula where I want it, is there some way for me to just give Excel a global command of: "Listen, I don't want to see ugly error strings, so can you just drop in a "--", or heck even just leave a cell blank, so I don't have to use the IFERROR syntax everywhere"?

 

[Scott Huish]

You could use Conditional Formatting to hide them.

Use a formula like this one in Conditional Formatting and set the font color to white:

=ISERROR(A1)

 

[d0rian]

Ha, yeah, that's the DIY solution I came up with too...what I like about a "--" or "n/a" value is that it lets me know there's actually a formula in the cell. Moreover, I find conditional formatting often a PITA to work with, b/c it gets copied / pasted / modified when I'm moving cells and columns around in ways that are annoying for me to fix. But thanks for suggestion, it's not a bad mcguyvering.