Free Computer Software Tips - Microsoft Office and Office 2007

Starting with the 2002 version, Excel checks all formulas for potential errors. If it finds something that it thinks may be a problem, it puts a small green triangle on the top left corner of the cell. For instance, if you are tracking information across a number of years, your column titles might be 2005, 2006, 2007, etc. The SUM function at the bottom of each column should not include the title, yet Excel would flag this as a potential error as the formula doesn't include all the cells that contain numbers (or Formula Omits Adjacent Cells, as Excel refers to it).

Click on a cell that has a green triangle and a small graphic appears to the left of the cell. Point to the graphic to see a description of the potential error. Click on the graphic to display commands that let you correct the error or ignore it. Ignoring the error hides the green triangle.

If you have a group of cells that all have the same potential error you can select them all and use Ignore Error to get rid of all the green triangles. In the majority of cases, I find the formulas in cells with green triangles don't actually have a problem. There is therefore a bit of a tendency to 'tune out' the green triangles. This is dangerous as we all make mistakes. My suggestion would be to check the formula in any cell that has a green triangle and if all is OK, use Ignore Error. Then, as new green triangles come along you'll notice them and potentially spot a formula that does have a problem.

Any questions, please let me know.

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