Strange Error Message "The number must be between 1 and 15"

[RickGreg]

I am receiving a strange error message when trying to apply cell formatting
to multiple cells in a row. Goes like this:

Select a1::a4
FORMAT>CELLS
The window pops up with the "Number" tab highlighted. When I click on
"Borders" to change the border format, I get the error:

"The number must be between 1 and 15"
"Try again by entering a number in this range."

When I try to format just one cell, I do not have this problem.

If I format borders on a single cell, then try to format multiple cells, it
works fine.

Seems like the Format Cells window is somehow getting "stuck" on the
"Numbers" tab.

OSX 10.4.8
Excel 11.3 (060914)

Other Notes:

This spreadsheet has been altered on both Mac and Windows machines.

Tried to copy/paste to new file and the problem persisted. Does NOT seem to
occur on newly created files or other files.

I seem to remember having a similar problem back in the OS9 days... Can't
recall the fix, but I'm guessing I found it on these boards!

Thanks for any help.

 

[CyberTaz]

Normally this is the message you get in *some* programs when you use a value
for a setting that is not within the allowable range... but Excel has no
such option, so I scratched my head & stayed awake all night pondering the
situation.

Although it could stem from something done on the PC I tend to think it
would more likely be that a Validation Rule has been applied to one or more
of the cells. Forget the borders, just type an alpha character or something

15 into each cell - one at a time - to see if the dialog appears when you

enter. If so, select the cell(s), go to Data>Validation & you will probably
find that the cell requires an entry of 1-15 based on the validation
setting. You should be abel to remove it unless protection is turned on.

 

[RickGreg]

Normally this is the message you get in *some* programs when you use a value
for a setting that is not within the allowable range... but Excel has no
such option, so I scratched my head & stayed awake all night pondering the
situation.

Although it could stem from something done on the PC I tend to think it
would more likely be that a Validation Rule has been applied to one or more
of the cells. Forget the borders, just type an alpha character or something
enter. If so, select the cell(s), go to Data>Validation & you will probably
find that the cell requires an entry of 1-15 based on the validation
setting. You should be abel to remove it unless protection is turned on.

Well, that didn't work. I checked all the related cells and there is no
Validation turned on.

Could something have become corrupted in Excel?

 

[CyberTaz]

Can you describe the appearance of the error message dialog in detail? Does
it contain any icons such as a triangle with exclamation point within,
Question Mark, big X?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[RickGreg]

Can you describe the appearance of the error message dialog in detail? Does
it contain any icons such as a triangle with exclamation point within,
Question Mark, big X?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

It has the Excel 2004 "X" logo to the left.

 

[CyberTaz]

It has the Excel 2004 "X" logo to the left.

Corruption is always a possibility, but it's hard to be sure in this case.
It does seem to be tied to formatting in some way. However, the formatting
that requires a numerical entry allows for 0-15, not 1-15, which pertains to
number of decimals. Even so, the message I get here with nothing in the
number of decimals box *doesn't* state a specific range. The caption reads
"Enter a different value" [bold], then reads "Your entry cannot be used. Try
entering an integer or decimal number." along with the Excel logo.

Have you selected a different format, such as General? Try selecting the
cells then Edit>Clear>Formats. See if you have the same problem. If that
doesn't do it and the cells have no significant content, try Edit>Delete -
Shift Cells Up/Left.

It's also conceivable that there is some VBA at work behind the scenes. Does
the file contain any macros?

Since I can't create the behavior I'm running out of ideas

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[RickGreg]

It has the Excel 2004 "X" logo to the left.

Corruption is always a possibility, but it's hard to be sure in this case.
It does seem to be tied to formatting in some way. However, the formatting
that requires a numerical entry allows for 0-15, not 1-15, which pertains to
number of decimals. Even so, the message I get here with nothing in the
number of decimals box *doesn't* state a specific range. The caption reads
"Enter a different value" [bold], then reads "Your entry cannot be used. Try
entering an integer or decimal number." along with the Excel logo.

Have you selected a different format, such as General? Try selecting the
cells then Edit>Clear>Formats. See if you have the same problem. If that
doesn't do it and the cells have no significant content, try Edit>Delete -
Shift Cells Up/Left.

It's also conceivable that there is some VBA at work behind the scenes. Does
the file contain any macros?

Since I can't create the behavior I'm running out of ideas

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

I tried to Clear>Formats on selected cells and it seems to have worked in
every case. Will be interesting to see if this behavior returns once I
reformat the sheet....

Thanks for your help.

-Rick

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Rick -

Glad *something* worked I think it may have been a custom format that
may have gone bonkers on you - perhaps if the format was created on the PC &
doesn't exist on the Mac. That's just a guess... I don't know if custom
formats travel with the files or not.
--
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Can you describe the appearance of the error message dialog in detail?
Does
it contain any icons such as a triangle with exclamation point within,
Question Mark, big X?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 11/13/06 5:51 PM, in article
C17E612A.DD86%[email protected], "RickGreg"

Normally this is the message you get in *some* programs when you use
a
value
for a setting that is not within the allowable range... but Excel has
no
such option, so I scratched my head & stayed awake all night
pondering the
situation.

Although it could stem from something done on the PC I tend to think
it
would more likely be that a Validation Rule has been applied to one
or
more
of the cells. Forget the borders, just type an alpha character or
something
15 into each cell - one at a time - to see if the dialog appears
when you
enter. If so, select the cell(s), go to Data>Validation & you will
probably
find that the cell requires an entry of 1-15 based on the validation
setting. You should be abel to remove it unless protection is turned
on.

Well, that didn't work. I checked all the related cells and there is
no
Validation turned on.

Could something have become corrupted in Excel?


It has the Excel 2004 "X" logo to the left.

Corruption is always a possibility, but it's hard to be sure in this
case.
It does seem to be tied to formatting in some way. However, the
formatting
that requires a numerical entry allows for 0-15, not 1-15, which pertains
to
number of decimals. Even so, the message I get here with nothing in the
number of decimals box *doesn't* state a specific range. The caption
reads
"Enter a different value" [bold], then reads "Your entry cannot be used.
Try
entering an integer or decimal number." along with the Excel logo.

Have you selected a different format, such as General? Try selecting the
cells then Edit>Clear>Formats. See if you have the same problem. If that
doesn't do it and the cells have no significant content, try
Edit>Delete -
Shift Cells Up/Left.

It's also conceivable that there is some VBA at work behind the scenes.
Does
the file contain any macros?

Since I can't create the behavior I'm running out of ideas

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

I tried to Clear>Formats on selected cells and it seems to have worked in
every case. Will be interesting to see if this behavior returns once I
reformat the sheet....

Thanks for your help.

-Rick