XL: Error Message: Fourier Analysis - The Number of Input Values Must Be 4096 or Less (214098)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Fourier Analysis tool in Microsoft Excel, you may receive an error message similar to either of the following:

Fourier Analysis - The number of input values must be 4096 or less.

-or-

Fourier Analysis - The number of input values must be a power of 2. For example : 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, ...

CAUSE

The issue related to the first error message occurs if the input range that you specify contains too many cells. The limits to the number of input cells that you can specify are as follows:

                                    Limit of
   Microsoft Excel version       input cells
   -----------------------------------------
   Versions 5.0 and later              4,096
   Version 4.0 for Windows             1,024
   Version 4.0 the Macintosh             256

The issue related to the second error message occurs if the number of cells specified in the input range is not equal to a power of two: for example, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1,024, 2,048, or 4,096 data points.

MORE INFORMATION

Fourier Analysis is a technique for solving problems in linear systems and analyzing periodic data.

If the input range specified in the Fourier Analysis tool does not meet the criteria specified in the "Cause" section, an error message occurs when you use the Fourier function in a macro or when you use the Fourier tool (found by clicking the Data Analysis command on the Tools menu).