I'm currently working on creating a dropdown list that hides selected items in Excel. I am using Excel 2016 and my file's type is Excel 97-2003 Workbook (xls).
The problem is, when I try to save my file, compatibility checker pops up. It only works on xlsx files. I think my formula for data validation could be the reason why. Any ideas or tips to fix this issue? Please. Thank you very much.
Here are the images
#cybernetic.nomad asks a reasonable question: "why not save it in .xlsx format?"
But if you really want to know why the compatibility checker comes up, the reason is this:
List Validation Ranges in Excel 97-2003 cannot refer to a range on another Worksheet (unless they are in a Named Range).
To get it to work with a Named Range:
copy your validation formula to the clipboard
bring up the Named Range dialogue (Ctrl+F3)
add a new Named Range (name=usernames, scope=Workbook, Refers To=[=your validation formula])
go back into the Data Validation dialogue where you want the dropdown and change the Source to "=usernames"
Related
I've been saving Google Sheets to Excel without any problems for a while. These sheets have always successfully saved and opened in Excel with the importrange function. However, recently it hasn't been successfully saving correctly.
It used to just have the static value (e.g, 40). There used to be an IFERROR in the first cell in the header row but now it exists in every single cell.
E.g, each cell would have something like this:
=IFERROR(__xludf.DUMMYFUNCTION(importrange(blahblah)),"40").
DUMMYFUNCTION throws an error and "40" is returned as a result. but "40" is a string, not an integer which messes up all my formulas.
I also know this isn't an Excel issue because OpenOffice is doing the same thing with the file.
I'm pretty sure this would be a bug because why would it be working for months and then suddenly stop working?
What should I do?
I'm thinking it's a bug too.
Workarounds
On Excel
Copy and paste as values only the ranges with IFERROR(__xludf.DUMMYFUNCTION(..., then use Excel's UI tools to convert numbers shown as text to numbers.
Selectively remove quotes on the IFERROR second argument of the cells causing problems
Remove =IFERROR(__xludf.DUMMYFUNCTION(),"value") except value (we could use Excel's built-in FIND & REPLACE for this)
On Google Sheets
Use Copy > Paste as values only on the range areas having formulas with non-compatible functions like IMPORTRANGE, QUERY, FILTER, etc.
If you only need the values, download it as CSV instead of XLSX
IMPORTANT
In order to help to prioritize this issue, send feedback to Google. To do this open a Google Sheets spreadsheet, click on Help > Report a problem, then fill the feedback form and submit it.
Related stuff
I posted 5 small articles about this in Spanish. You could find them listed on https://www.rubenrivera.mx/p/descargar-hcg-excel.html.
We accidentally created a workaround for this bug with a different sheet that was just set up like this.
This works when you IMPORTRANGE into another Google Sheet. We are doing it into a Google Sheet with a single worksheet - haven't tried it with multiple.
It's going to sound a little nuts but it works for us.
In the first cell of your import range put a hyperlink in the original document you are importing from. This is in the first cell of the import range. We linked it to a worksheet in the original document. It has worked and failed with an external link. With an external link it worked when I linked it to an internal link, then changed it. But when I deleted the cell and just straight linked it to an external URL it didn't work.
Then #timbo was right - put data validation in. This can be in part of the document that isn't being imported into the second sheet. I put it in the first line of the import range but outside what I was importing. It might have to be the first line. I just put a date in one cell, then in the next cell data > data validation > then choose that one date as the data range.
For aesthetics I have hidden the first row in one Google Sheet I am importing into. In another I made the first cell link the title of the sheet and put the data validation outside the import range. Both of these work.
Let me know if this works for you.
Until this bug is fixed, a workaround is to put a data validation (Data > Data Validation) on the imported data (Any kind of data validation will do).
I am working on an excel spreadsheet. I have a dropdown with values. I need to add a value in there.
There is no macro and there is no connection. The only thing I found was:
I selected the cell at hand
Data -> DataValidation
In the source i can see this string =Variables!$D$1:$D$23
I do not have a sheet called variables or anything close to the word variables in any of the sheets. Where can this be coming from?
There is also protection on the workbook but not the individual sheets. Could this be the issue?
Thank you
You can usually check the contents of a hidden sheet quite easy using the Immediate Window.
So open the VBA editor (Alt-F11), go to the Immediate window (Ctrl-G), and try:
?Variables.[D17]
If this works, you can repeat this to see the other 22 validation values (or write a small sub, using Debug.Print ubstead of ?).
I have a Master workbook in MS Excel that references data in 4 other workbooks.
When it opens I get the following message:
We can't update some of the links in your workbook right now.
You can continue without updating their values, or edit the links you think are wrong.
[Continue] [Edit Links...]
Each referenced workbook contains a N row, 365 column rectangular range that I have named 'DataRange'
My master workbook contains 4 lots of N row, 365 column ranges with Array Formula linked to these named ranges:
{='C:\Path\[Workbook1Name.xlsx]Sheet'![DataRange]}
It feels like i've come across an Excel bug.. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?
Are you using MS Excel 2013, when you receive this error?
If so, it maybe due to the "3D reference in your named DataRange" in Excel 2013 or because you're referencing a range or cell in a closed workbook.
Excel allows the defining of names that refer to specific cells or ranges of cells in that workbook, similarly (using the Define Name tool in the Formulas tab) you can assign a formula to a name and then use that name in place of the formula.
The named formula or named data range is part of a collection in that workbook's (workbook1) objects and can be used in different workbook (workbook2), but the link to the defined name in the other workbook must be done one of two ways.
Link the defined name with a formula like this
='C:\Folder\Path\Workbook1.xls'!NamedFormula or NamedDataRange
Or Create a defined name in workbook2 (it can have the same defined name as workbook1's or a new name) and then refer workbook2's defined name to workbook1's defined name. Select Define Name on the Formula tab and copy a link like this in the Refers To Field:
='C:\Folder\Path\Workbook1.xls'!NamedFormula or NamedDataRange
Note these links will only work when being used in simple formulas which treat the link as a direct links. It will not work with more complex formulas when the original workbook (workbook1) is closed because the link is often treated as an indirect link in complicated formulas.
To work around this issue, use either of the following methods:
Save workbook1 and workbook2 as .xlsb files.
Do not add an external reference link to a defined name that refers to a 3D reference or named range.
Or open both workbooks
For more detail information, please refer to the following link:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2755120
If you're still receiving an error/ warning message after trying all my above suggestion. You might want to some troubleshooting.
Try this:
- Open Excel. Under Tools->Options->Calculation, select the Update remote
references box.
Open your workbook. Make sure the box the remote reference box is checked. Save your workbook this way after updating the link. Close workbook and Excel.Restart Excel and open your workbook.
- Look under defined names and delete all that you don't need or that have broken formulae. Run a FindLink search, to pin point the problem.
This process worked for one of workmates with this exact problem.
I hope this helps, if not let me know. There might be a 4th solution.
I finally solved this issue after going on a scavenger hunt. In my case, the reference was to an old file that no longer exists, and removing the reference was all that was needed. Unfortunately Excel does not pinpoint where the reference is, so it was a pain to look for the cell that was making the reference.
In my workbook, it was a reference as a part of a Data Validation. For others seeing the same error, I recommend using the Find & Select -> Go To Special feature (Home ribbon tab) then searching by Formula errors and and Data validation.
Open Excel
Go to "Inquire" tab page in the ribbon
Select "Workbook Analysis"
Check Items\Cells\With Validation Criteria items. In the "Validation Text" you might spot references to the extenal source.
The "Cell Address" column would give you the list of problematic cells.
Look around any other supsicious findings of the Workbook Analysis tool
Have you considered giving the data ranges different names? DataRange1, DataRange2 etc, or is this not possible due to other constraints. When excel says "some" of the links, how far has it got?
I got it working by ditching the FormulaArray and set the FormulaR1C1 for the entire range. Unfortunately the formula was a bit more complicated.
=INDEX(
'C:\Path\Workbook1Name.xlsx'!DataRange,
ROW() - ROW(Workbook1DataRange) + ROW('C:\Path\Workbook1Name.xlsx'!DataRange) - 5,
COLUMN() - COLUMN('C:\Path\Workbook1Name.xlsx'!DataRange) + 1)
An Excel worksheet contains a datewise list of entries. Whenever I open the worksheet, I want today's date entry to be highlighted. For example, when I open the Excel file containing Interest payment amounts and due dates, it should tell me which Interest is due today.
Conditional Formatting is the way to go.
In Excel 2007 (not sure about earlier versions), you can conditional format against formula -- i.e. set a conditional format to equals =TODAY().
(Apologies, I had tried to upload an image for you, but I don't have enough reputation to do so...)
I'm not sure exactly what you're going for, but if you're attempting to just have the data highlighted you can use conditional formatting to cause the appropriate values to be marked out.
If you're trying to make the data actually be re-ordered or show a sub-set of the existing data onto another tab, you'll need to embed some custom visual basic code into your workbook as a macro-enabled workbook (*.xlsm). There are events inside there that can be called when the workbook is opened.
Alright I know this isn't 100% related to programming (the Excel book in question doesn't use VBA at all) but I'm hoping someone can help me out with this or point me in the right direction.
My boss got a spreadsheet from a vendor that has a combobox/dropdown list with various part numbers; when you select one it populates the rest of the form with a lookup containing additional items. I've been tasked with "cracking" this and finding the list that they're using to populate so we can make use of it.
The thing is... there's no VBA code, no macros, no data connections, and only one Worksheet displayed in Excel while the lookup code references a Sheet1. I've tried to display hidden worksheets and it says there are none... so where on earth could this list be kept? My boss is getting impatient and is asking me if I've broken it yet. It's not a big deal if it can't be done, I just have no clue where to continue looking for it and I don't know what to tell my boss when he asks me if I'm done.
Can anyone help?
It's possible to hide a worksheet using VBA so that it can't be unhidden from the UI.
Try the method for un-hiding all hidden workhseets outlined here:
http://www.automateexcel.com/2004/12/14/excel_vba_unhide_all_worksheets/
My guess is that it is a Data Validation list which references a constant list of values or a range on a "Very Hidden" sheet. In Excel 2007, select one of the cells with the drop-down, click on the "Data" tab in the Ribbon, click on "Data Validation" in the Ribbon and see what you have. In Excel 2003 it is the Data -> Validation... command.
Another possibility if you know the name of the worksheet is "Sheet1" is to add a new worksheet, enter "=Sheet1!A1" into cell A1 of the new worksheet, and copy this cell down and to the right for as large of an area as you need to see the data you are interested in.
If you can post a URL to download the workbook (assuming it is not a trade secret) you would be more likely to get an accurate answer.
Could it be some data stored on the same sheet.
Possibly in columns which are either hidden, or which are far off the actual page?
Isn't this just data from the worksheet only?
Column header dropdown lists acts as filters, they show distinct values of a column.
This is a feature of Excel.
The items could be cached from a currently unavailable resource. Try saving it out to xml and searching for a known string.
Click on the cell that display a drop down list when selected
From the menubar select data>validation
In the dialog box copy the content of the source text box
Now paste the content on any empty cell on your worksheet
Select a drag it down to see the values populating the list
Chris
------
Convert your Excel spreadsheet into an online calculator.
http://www.spreadsheetconverter.com
I am assuming that you have broken this by now, but just in case you havent. This is certainly a case of data validation using a named range which is house on another sheet that was designated "very Hidden" from the vba console. You will need to open up the VBA project of this worksheet and designated the "very Hidden" sheet to just Hidden and then you will be able to unhide it, or the other setting at which point it will be viewable.