XL97: Natural Language Formulas Return Error

ID: Q157095

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you enter a natural language formula (NLF), you may receive the following error message:

   That name is not valid.

or the cell containing the formula may contain the #NULL! error value.

Or, if you click the Edit Formula button to the left of the formula bar, part of the formula may be converted into a function. For example, the formula "=Col Row" may be converted to "=Col ROW()".

CAUSE

These problems may occur if any of the following conditions are true:

The workbook into which you are entering the formula contains a subroutine or function whose name is identical to one of the labels within your formula.
```
    -or-
```
The workbook into which you are entering the formula contains a reference to another workbook that contains a subroutine or function whose name is identical to one of the labels within your formula.
```
    -or-
```
The workbook into which you are entering the formula contains a globally-defined name that is identical to one of the labels within your formula, or the worksheet into which you are entering the formula contains a locally-defined name that is identical to one of the labels within your formula.
```
    -or-
```
One of the labels in your formula is the same as a function that is built into Microsoft Excel 97.

WORKAROUND

To prevent these problems from occurring, enclose labels in your formulas within apostrophes ('). For example, instead of this formula

   =Charlie Tango

use this formula:

   ='Charlie' 'Tango'

Enclosing labels within apostrophes prevents them from conflicting with subroutines, functions, and defined names whose names are identical to the label(s) within your formula. This allows you to retain your subroutine names, function names, and defined names in any of your workbooks.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 97, natural language formulas allow you to refer to values in tables of information without having to define names or use bulky INDEX-MATCH style formulas. Below is an example that demonstrates how natural language formulas work:

   A1:           B1: Romeo   C1: Sierra   D1: Tango   E1: Uniform
   A2: Alpha     B2: 1       C2: 2        D2: 3       E2: 4
   A3: Bravo     B3: 5       C3: 6        D3: 7       E3: 8
   A4: Charlie   B4: 9       C4: 10       D4: 11      E4: 12
   A5: Echo      B5: 13      C5: 14       D5: 15      E5: 16

If you enter the above information into a new worksheet, you can find values within the table, or perform actions on parts of the table, by using a natural language formula.

For example, the following formula:

   =Charlie Tango

returns the value at the intersection of the Charlie-row and the Tango- column. In this case, the result is 11.

Or, you could enter this formula:

   =SUM(Sierra)

to get the sum of the Sierra-column, 32.

However, natural language formulas will not work correctly if certain conditions are true. For example, if you have the following formula:

   =Charlie Tango

The formula will fail to work if any of the following conditions are true:

If the active workbook contains a subroutine or function named "Charlie" or "Tango", the formula will not work. You will receive the "That name is not valid" error message.
```
    -or-
```
If the active workbook references another workbook that contains a subroutine or function named "Charlie" or "Tango", the formula will not work. The same error message will be displayed. (To create a reference, click References on the Tools menu while in a Visual Basic module in the active workbook.)
```
    -or-
```
If the active workbook contains a defined name called "Charlie" or "Tango", or if such a name exists on the active worksheet, the formula will not work. A #NULL! error message will be displayed.

To prevent these problems from occurring, enclose your label names within apostrophes.

Additional query words: XL97 natural-language

Keywords          : xlui xlvbainfo xlformula kbfaq
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 5, 1999