XL98: How to Create a Conditional Format to Hide Errors (186676)

MORE INFORMATION

In versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, you cannot create a custom number format to hide error values that are returned to the cell by the cell formula. For example, if you enter the following in your worksheet:

   A1: =B1/C1   B1: 5   C1: 0
				

A #DIV/0! error is returned to cell A1.

A new feature in Microsoft Excel 98 called conditional formatting allows you to hide error values that are returned to the cell by the cell formula.

Example

The following example uses conditional formatting to hide error values that are returned by formulas in cells:

1. Enter the following in a worksheet:

         A1: =B1/C1          B1: 5   C1: 0
         A2: =noname*B2      B2: 6   C2: 0
   						

   NOTE: Cell A1 returns the #DIV/0! error value, and cell A2 returns the #NAME? error value because "noname" is not a valid defined name.
2. Select cells A1:A2.
3. On the Format menu, click Conditional Formatting.
4. In the Conditional Formatting dialog box, click the Condition 1 list and click "Formula Is."
5. In the box to the right of the Condition 1 list, enter the following formula:

   =ISERROR(A1)

6. Click the Format button. In the Format Cells dialog box, click the white color in the Color list.
7. Click OK in the Format Cells dialog box, and then click OK in the Conditional Formatting dialog box.

NOTE: There are other techniques for hiding error values that you can use in versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than Microsoft Excel 98.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: