Dealing with errors

D

daxmiller

Does anyone know whether there is a neat way to deal with a formula
whose result may be "error" without using the "iserror" function and
effectively having to write the formula twice. For example, the
construct I use currently is =IF(ISERROR(my formula),"n/a",my formula).
This requires me to enter my formula twice which is redundant.
 
P

paul

it is painful but you can use a shortened version of long formulas to test
for error
I am sure you are aware you can cut and paste in the formula bar,not so
painful then
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Does anyone know whether there is a neat way to deal with a formula
whose result may be "error" without using the "iserror" function and
effectively having to write the formula twice. For example, the
construct I use currently is =IF(ISERROR(my formula),"n/a",my formula).
This requires me to enter my formula twice which is redundant.
Click to expand...

It depends on what you want to happen if there is an error.

If you just want to hide the error message, you could use conditional
formatting and format the font the same as the background color if the cell
contains an error (Formula Is: =iserr(cell_ref)

Sometimes, if you understand why there is an error result, you can simplify the
formula. For example, you might be able to test just for the presence of a
single value in a single cell, rather than repeat the entire formula.


--ron
 
D

daxmiller

Thanks Dave, yes, it does seem that MSFT is onto this in XL12. Hope it
will convert all my existing double-barrelled ISERROR formulae into
nice neat IFERROR formulae. What do you think the chances are?
 
D

Dave Peterson

I wouldn't guess that existing =if(iserror(),"",()) would be converted. But
that's just my guess.

But you could post a question on that blog.
 
B

Bob Phillips

None, because ISERROR will still be around.

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)
 
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