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SpreadsheetML Reference Material - Table of Contents

Error values

The evaluation of an expression can result in an error having one of a number of error values. These error values are:

Error Value

Reason for Occurrence

#DIV/0!

Intended to indicate when any number, including zero, is divided by zero. [Note: However, any error code divided by zero results in that error code. end note]

#N/A

Intended to indicate when a designated value is not available. [Example: Some functions, such as SUMX2MY2, perform a series of operations on corresponding elements in two arrays. If those arrays do not have the same number of elements, then for some elements in the longer array, there are no corresponding elements in the shorter one; that is, one or more values in the shorter array are not available. end example]

This error value can be produced by calling the function NA3.17.7.221).

#NAME?

Intended to indicate when what looks like a name is used, but no such name has been defined. [Example: XYZ/3, where XYZ is not a defined name. Total is & A10, where neither Total nor is is a defined name. Presumably, "Total is " & A10 was intended. SUM(A1C10), where the range A1:C10 was intended. end example]

#NULL!

Intended to indicate when two areas are required to intersect, but do not. [Example: In the case of SUM(B1 C1), the space between B1 and C1 is treated as the binary intersection operator, when a comma was intended. end example]

#NUM!

Intended to indicate when an argument to a function has a compatible type, but has a value that is outside the domain over which that function is defined. (This is known as a domain error.) [Example: Certain calls to ASIN, ATANH, FACT, and SQRT might result in domain errors. end example]

Intended to indicate that the result of a function cannot be represented in a value of the specified type, typically due to extreme magnitude. (This is known as a range error.) [Example: FACT(1000) might result in a range error. end example]

#REF!

Intended to indicate when a cell reference is invalid. [Example: If a formula contains a reference to a cell, and then the row or column containing that cell is deleted, a #REF! error results. If a worksheet does not support 20,001 columns, OFFSET(A1,0,20000) will result in a #REF! error. end example]

#VALUE!

Intended to indicate when an incompatible type argument is passed to a function, or an incompatible type operand is used with an operator. [Example: In the case of a function argument, text was expected, but a number was provided end example]

 

Each error value has a corresponding error-constant3.17.2.1).

[Note: A number of functions operate on error values: They include ERROR.TYPE3.17.7.109), ISERR3.17.7.174), ISERROR3.17.7.175), and ISNA3.17.7.178). end note]