Microsoft KB Archive/24052

{| = Excel: Error Message "Extract Range Is Not Valid" =
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Last reviewed: March 25, 1998

Article ID: Q24052

The information in this article applies to:
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.0

SUMMARY
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh returns the error message "Extract Range Is Not Valid" if the field names in the extract range do not match the field names for the database or if the field names are dates. Excel also generates this error message if you do not choose any field names in your extract range. The error message is also displayed if the field names in the extract range aren't contiguous.

For example, if the field name is entered as Aug 1990, Excel interprets it as the date August 1, 1990. The formula bar displays it as the date 8/1/1990. Dates are not valid field names because field names must be text, and a date is a number. Numbers are not valid for field names.

To use "Aug 1990" as a field name, enter it as text by entering the following into the cell:

="Aug 1990" The display on the worksheet remains the same; however, the entry is now text so you cannot use it in calculations or change the number formatting.
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