#N/A Conditional Formatting affects all cells?

[SMW]

I'm applying the conditional format =ISERROR($A$1) to change the text of
cells displaying #N/A to white, as recommended by every conditional
formatting guide on the Internet. However, when applied to a range of cells,
they all turn white!!

Cell A1 has a formula that provides a #N/A error, in the same way that the
desired cells produce an #N/A error:

The cells that need to be white are coded =VLOOKUP(B4,SHEET1,10) where B4 is
='SHEET2'!C4. C4 is blank, so B4 returns 0. The result is #N/A. (When C4 is
no longer blank, B4 displays data and needs to be visible.)

This is the only conditional format used in the spreadsheet. I've tried to
find out if anyone else has this problem and had no luck.

 

[Per Jessen]

Hi

Your problem is that you are using an absolute cell reference, change
the formula to =ISERROR(A1)

Notice the $ signs has been removed to indicate that it is a relative
reference.

Regards,
Per

 

[Gord Dibben]

I would not use ISERROR which masks all errors but then I'm not an Internet
guide.

I would use ISNA which is specific to your needs.

Your formula has absolute reference to $A$1

Each cell in the range looks only at $A$1 for the condtion.

Remove the $ signs.

=ISNA(A1)


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[SMW]

I could have sworn I tried that! It works now, thanks so much!!

 

[SMW]

I spoke too soon! When the value of C4 changes to something besides #N/A,
the text does not change back from white. So changing the cells to a
relative reference does not make conditional formatting work...

 

[SMW]

I tried ISNA(A1) - both by selecting all cells and applying the conditional
format, and then by selecting individual cells and giving each one the same
formula under conditional formatting. The formatting did not change back
from white when #N/A changed to a valid data value.

(I'm using "Formula is" rather than "Cell Value is.")

 

[Fred Smith]

What did you change it to? Iserror traps any error condition including #N/A.
If you entered a value, like 3, and still had white text, it means you
didn't enter the conditional format correctly, as the recommended formula is
correct.

By the way, I presume that changing the text to white makes it disappear. If
that's what you want, you're better off using formulas like:
=if(isna(yourformula),"",yourformula)

Regards
Fred

 

[Fred Smith]

Do you need to recalculate? Is recalculation set to automatic?
In 2007, check for:
Office button>Excel Options>Formulas>Workbook Calculation>Automatic

Regards,
Fred

 

[SMW]

Yup, it's on auto!!

Do you need to recalculate? Is recalculation set to automatic?
In 2007, check for:
Office button>Excel Options>Formulas>Workbook Calculation>Automatic

Regards,
Fred



.

 

[SMW]

I entered a value that is within the VLOOKUP range (293, which should produce
"John Doe"). When I select the range of cells, I see it has a non-error
value, but the text is still white.

HOWEVER I tried the IF(ISNA) formula and it holds up under testing, making
the text disappear when the formula produces an error!! Thanks a million