Array Formula Error

[CecesWorking]

Hello -

I have a data set similar to below

Date Field 1 Field 2 Field 3
1/1/09 x x o
1/5/09 o x x
1/14/09 o o x

I also have an array formula in a separate cell that looks for the row with
the closest match to today's date and is supposed to return the row number
that is the closest match. The formula is:
=MATCH(MIN(ABS(A1:A29-TODAY())),ABS(A1:A29-TODAY()),0)

I keep getting the following error in the array formula: #VALUE!

Is it because the format of the date in column A? I am not sure what I'm
doing wrong.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks for your time and effort.

 

[Tom Hutchins]

Your formula works fine for me whether the dates are Excel dates or text
dates. Is your data all in column A? That would generate the #VALUE error you
describe. If that is the case, use Data >> Text to Columns to split the data
into four columns so the dates are alone in column A.

Hope this helps,

Hutch

 

[Bernard Liengme]

I entered you data into A13 and copied your formula
As expected I Got result #N/A
When I opened the cell with the formula for editing and committed it with
CTR+SHIFT+ENTER I got answer 3 - the correct value. You must use the
three-fingered commit as this is an array formula.

But you get #VALUE! The format of the date cells will have no effect (dates
are stored as serial numbers like 39838 and can be displayed in various
ways) as long as they are real dates. In a blank cell (say G1) enter = A1+1;
do you get 1/2/2009? Test all the dates this way.

Tell what you find
best wishes

 

[CecesWorking]

Hello Tom -

Thanks for the help.

Only the Date data lives in column A.

I tried to further specify the formula here:
=MATCH(MIN(ABS($A:$A-TODAY())),ABS($A:$A-TODAY()),0)

But now I receive a new error: #NUM!

Is it because I'm using Excel 2003? I'm not sure at all what I'm doing wrong.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you again for your time and effort.

 

[Tom Hutchins]

There's nothing wrong with your original formula - the problem must be in the
dates.

Text in any of the cells in your column A range would cause the #VALUE
error. An empty cell won't cause the error, but a cell with a one or more
spaces (which looks empty) will cause the error. Check your column A range
for any cells with text.

If your data was imported from another system, you might have hidden
characters in one or more cells causing the problem.

Hutch

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

The NUM error is occuring because Excel will not allow you to use entire
columns in this type of array until version 2007. So you need to change A:A
to A$1:A$65535 or something smaller.