Support > Academic Only Programs > Working with Tables > #VALUE! Error

The #VALUE! Error message

You may encounter a #VALUE! error within the locked cells inside any Palo Alto Software program. This error message is the program's method of letting you know about invalid or missing data in the unlocked, data entry cells of the table.

Resolution

Palo Alto Software, Inc. offers a #VALUE! error Diagnostic service for a fee, as a convenience to our customers.

Take the steps below to resolve the error on your own.

The #VALUE error in plan tables indicates that one or more cells that should contain number values are blank or are being read as text instead. This error is most often caused by blanks in data entry cells. However, it can also indicate errors in data entry, or errors in user-entered spreadsheet formulas.

Double check all of your data entry

The data may look like numbers to you, but it is possible that the software is interpreting them as text. Often cells have been left blank, no numbers at all, which the software interprets as a space, not a number.

The software formats numbers automatically, such as the "$" for currency or "," for thousands. Therefore, when entering numbers into cells, enter the NUMBERS ONLY, with no formatting characters or spaces. Manually entering formatting codes or pressing the spacebar while entering numbers causes the program to "see" the data as text.

To test a value that looks like a number but seems to be interpreted as text, re-type it beginning with an equal sign and numbers only. For example, if the problem seems to be with a cell showing "$999,999", type =999999 into the cell and see what happens.

About this article

This article applies to the following product versions: 

Advertising Plan Pro

Academic Only Software

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