Overwriting error message #NUM! with meaningful text

R

Radio Ham

In my Shortwave Skip Distance Predictor I have the formula
=2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)*(B2/C2)-1) When C2 is greater than B2 (i.e. when the
critical frequency is greater than the user frequency) we end up taking the
square root of a negative number, which gives #NUM! in the Skip Distance
result column. How do I change this error message into a meaningful text
saying NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Skywave)?

From looking at various Excel Guides it seems I need to add some sort of
Macro, but don't know what General Script to write. If someone could write
one for me I would be most grateful. Given this example I think I could cope
with similar cases in the future. Many thanks.
 
D

David Billigmeier

Add an ISERROR() check first:

=IF(ISERROR(2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)*(B2/C2)-1)),"NVIS",2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)*(B2/C2)-1))
 
R

Radio Ham

It works!!
Regards

David Billigmeier said:
Add an ISERROR() check first:

=IF(ISERROR(2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)*(B2/C2)-1)),"NVIS",2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)*(B2/C2)-1))
Click to expand...
 
J

JE McGimpsey

Note that the formula will mask other errors, too (like an error B2, C2
or D2, or C2=0). It also uses rather more references than necessary. A
slightly more efficient version:

=IF(B2<C2,"NVIS",2*D2*SQRT((B2/C2)^2-1))
 
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