XL: "Formula Contains an Invalid External..." Referring to Sheet

ID: Q175856

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you enter a new formula or edit an existing formula in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, you may receive the following error message:

   Your formula contains an invalid external reference to a worksheet.

   Verify that the path, workbook, and range name or cell reference are
   correct, and try again.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you enter a formula that refers to a worksheet with a name that contains a left bracket ([) or right bracket (]) character.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, remove the bracket character from the name of the worksheet that you are referencing in your formula.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The following characters are not valid characters to use in worksheet names:

   / 
   ?
   *
   [
   ]

REFERENCES

For more information about renaming worksheets, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   renaming, worksheets

Additional query words: XL97 XL98 square

Keywords          : xlui xlformula 
Version           : WINDOWS:97; MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: January 9, 1999