XL: Macro to Suppress an Error Value Returned by a Formula

ID: Q138080

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel returns an error value for any cell that has a formula that cannot be properly calculated. These error values include the following:

   #DIV/0!
   #N/A
   #NAME?
   #NULL!
   #NUM!
   #REF!
   #VALUE!

The "More Information" section of this article provides sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macros (Sub procedures) that you can use to suppress these error values.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

These examples replace the existing formula in the active cell with an IF statement that tests the formula results for an error value. If an error value is detected, the macro displays a zero instead of the cell error value.

Sample Visual Basic Procedures

   Sub ErrorToZero()
       X = Right(ActiveCell.Formula,Len(ActiveCell.Formula)-1)
       ActiveCell.Formula = "=IF(ISERROR(" & X & "),0," & X & ")"
   End Sub

NOTE: If a "0" is undesirable cell output, you can change it. In the Visual Basic for Applications code, replace the "0" on line two with the desired cell output.

Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro

Example 1:

   =GET.FORMULA(ACTIVE.CELL())
   =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-1)
   =FORMULA("=IF(ISERROR("&A2&"),0,"&A2&")",)
   =RETURN()

NOTE: This macro must be started in cell A1. If a "0" is undesirable cell output, you can change it. In the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Language, replace the "0" on line three with the desired cell output.

Example 2:

   x=GET.FORMULA(ACTIVE.CELL())
   y=RIGHT(x,LEN(x)-1)
   =FORMULA("=IF(ISERROR("&y&"),0,"&y&")",)
   =RETURN()

NOTE: In the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Language, replace the "0" on line three with the desired cell output.

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 8.00 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode xlformat PgmHowto KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:4.0,5,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999