Turn off the '...found an error in your formula...' dialog box.

[CascadeHush]

Question: When I enter a formula in Excel 2004, whilst I am trying to
edit the formula, Excel keeps trying to do error checking on the
formula, and I have to constantly wade through 2 dialog boxes every
time I have to add a series of brackets. I have turned off every
error checking option, and some other options which relate to cell
editing, but have not been able to disable it. Is there a way to do
this?

Thanks in advance.


Rant: This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen... it makes the
program impossible to use. If I'm in the middle of editing a formula
and trying to concentrate, I can't be stopped every time with 2 (not 1
but 2) dialog boxes every time. This is beyond terrible, it's a deal
breaker, very poor style If Microsoft wants to indicate an error they
can use a status bar message, or colour code the text, or put a red
bar across the top of the window, but for goodness sake stop
interrupting my work with a stupid dialog box (or 2 as is the case).
It's a shame, I like excel, but this is a deal breaker.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Question: When I enter a formula in Excel 2004, whilst I am trying to
edit the formula, Excel keeps trying to do error checking on the
formula, and I have to constantly wade through 2 dialog boxes every
time I have to add a series of brackets. I have turned off every
error checking option, and some other options which relate to cell
editing, but have not been able to disable it. Is there a way to do
this?

Thanks in advance.


Rant: This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen... it makes the
program impossible to use. If I'm in the middle of editing a formula
and trying to concentrate, I can't be stopped every time with 2 (not 1
but 2) dialog boxes every time. This is beyond terrible, it's a deal
breaker, very poor style If Microsoft wants to indicate an error they
can use a status bar message, or colour code the text, or put a red
bar across the top of the window, but for goodness sake stop
interrupting my work with a stupid dialog box (or 2 as is the case).
It's a shame, I like excel, but this is a deal breaker.

This is very bizarre behavior - Excel's parser should only evaluate the
formula when you hit Return/Enter/Tab, etc. While you're in edit mode,
either in the Formula bar or in the cell, XL's error checking is turned
off.

You don't mention what dialog boxes you see - what do they say?

At what point do they display (e.g., what have you typed so far?)?

 

[CascadeHush]

This is very bizarre behavior - Excel's parser should only evaluate the

formula when you hit Return/Enter/Tab, etc. While you're in edit mode,
either in the Formula bar or in the cell, XL's error checking is turned
off.

You don't mention what dialog boxes you see - what do they say?

At what point do they display (e.g., what have you typed so far?)?

"Microsoft Excel found an error in the formula you entered. Do you
want to accept the correction proposed below?

<insert formlua here>

* To accept the correction, Click Yes.
* To close this message and correct eh formula youreslf, click No."

For brefity reasons referred to this at the '...found an error in the
formula...' error dialog. The dialog has no title.

When I say no (since all the correction does is disallow the last edit
and make me have to stop what I'm doing) I get another dialog (again,
no title) which says:

"The formula you typed contains an error.

* To get assistance in entering a function, click OK, then click
Function on the Insert Menu.
* If you are no trying to enter a formula, avoid using and equal sign
(=) or minus sign 9-0, or precede it with a single quotation mark
(')."

The last thing I need is assistance writing a function. It is this
assistance that is preventing me from writing a function. Once I get
through all this nagging (it's like being in grade 2 with the teacher
leaning over your shoulder) the formula works fine.

The problem seems to be related to brackets. When I am working on a
formula, and I realise I need a bracket, so I add the right bracket
and press the left arrow to go back and add the left bracket. It is
at this point that Excel has a heart attack, initiates code red and
slips into mummy mode (no you can't go outside until you've put on
your brackets in the correct order). Since I'm not an idiot-savant I
don't conjure up the formula in my head ahead of time, I need to be
able to edit it without interference. And no, I'm not going to change
25 years of computer usage so that I have to go back and put in the
left bracket first. I'll change to a different spreadsheet before I
do that. It's the same thing as if a word processor made you stop
what you where typing every time you made a spelling error, it's that
bad.

Sorry... I got a bit ranty at the end there. I do appreciate your
reply.

 

[Niek Otten]

Don't use left arrow, use the mouse to position the cursor.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

The problem seems to be that you are editing directly in the cell. You
should not do that for all the reasons you mention. Edit the formula in the
formula bar. Then you can use the arrow keys as you wish. Press enter when
you are done to get Excel to parse the formula and generate any errors.

 

[CascadeHush]

The problem seems to be that you are editing directly in the cell. You
should not do that for all the reasons you mention. Edit the formula in the
formula bar. Then you can use the arrow keys as you wish. Press enter when
you are done to get Excel to parse the formula and generate any errors.

A thousand thanks.

I have now turned off 'Edit directly in cell' so that gets rid of the
problem altogether.

I have been using Google Docs in the mean time, and it turns out that
it does the same thing, only with just one dialog and it goes away
when you answer it. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea
but it's treating user's like fools and preventing the proper
efficient use of the program.

Well at least I have my excel back (I'll still leave all error
checking options turned off as well).

Thanks again.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

A thousand thanks.

I have now turned off 'Edit directly in cell' so that gets rid of the
problem altogether.

I have been using Google Docs in the mean time, and it turns out that
it does the same thing, only with just one dialog and it goes away
when you answer it. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea
but it's treating user's like fools and preventing the proper
efficient use of the program.

Well at least I have my excel back (I'll still leave all error
checking options turned off as well).

Thanks again.

And, another reason NOT to ever use Edit directly in Cell:
With it turned off, double clicking on a cell containing a formula,
highlights all the precedent cells. Makes debugging MUCH easier.

 

[CascadeHush]

And, another reason NOT to ever use Edit directly in Cell:
With it turned off, double clicking on a cell containing a formula,
highlights all the precedent cells. Makes debugging MUCH easier.

Thanks, that's a great tip. I don't think I'd have ever discovered
that.

 

[Chloe]

I have a similar issue with excel, not exactly this one, but get a dialog box that says excel found unreadable content in this file, there's an invalid file name and then several other boxes come up before it opens.
\
How can I avoid these dialog boxes in spreadsheets tht are sent to me and I'm simply opening. This happens even if I rename and then send (cc'ng myself).

thanks for your help.