"This cell is inconsistent with the column formula" error

[Nebulous]

I get no results from a Google search on this message searched as a phrase,
yet that is word-for-word what Excel is telling me.

Seems simple: I have two worksheets containing tables, "Goal 1" and "Master
List".

In Goal 1:B9, data are entered manually.

In Master List:B9, the formula is simply "='Goal 1'!B9."

Yet when I click on Master List:B9, an exclamation mark appears to the left,
and when I hover over it, it says "This cell is inconsistent with the column
formula."

Is this something unique about references to tables (I've not worked with
tables before)?

Thanks,

~N

 

[Sam Wilson]

I'd guess that the formulas in Master List B8 & B10 are similar (ie, if you
copied B8 down to B10 B10 wouldn't change) and excel is trying to warn you
that may have an error in your formula.

If the formula is correct you can choose to ignore the warning.

Sam

 

[Nebulous]

THanks Sam. B9 is the first cell in the column that uses a formula. But I did
drag and fill the B9 formula to the end of the column.

Seems like a strange error message (doesn't appear to make sense), and I was
weirded out that it doesn't appear anywhere online.

I appreciate your input.

jb

 

[JoeU2004]

Seems like a strange error message (doesn't appear to make sense),
and I was weirded out that it doesn't appear anywhere online.

Me, too. I am sure there are times that those "background error checking"
messages can be helpful. But 999 times out of 1000, they are a nuisance
distraction.

I disable them. In Excel 2003, click on Tools > Options > Error Checking.
Deselect (uncheck) "Enable background error checking", and click on Reset
Ignored Errors.


----- original message -----

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks, and for the record I forgot to mention that this is Excel 2007.

I'll disable or ignore.