Microsoft KB Archive/118849

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL: Problems with Function Wizard and IS Functions
Last reviewed: September 13, 1996

Article ID: Q118849

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you use the Function Wizard with an IS function, and you refer to a cell reference, the Function Wizard converts the cell reference to a text string by inserting quotation marks around the reference.

For example, if you attempt to refer to cell A1, the Function Wizard will return the following formula:

=ISERROR("A2") This behavior will cause the formula to return incorrect results.

CAUSE
This problem occurs with the following IS functions:

ISBLANK ISERR ISERROR ISEVEN ISLOGICAL ISNA ISNONTEXT ISNUMBER ISODD ISREF ISTEXT when the cell being referred to contains an error value, such as #N/A. If the cell is blank or contains an alphanumeric value, the functions will work correctly.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, enter the formula manually rather than with the Function Wizard.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.