What Is ISERR Function In Excel?
The ISERR function in Excel is a powerful tool that evaluates whether a cell contains an error value and returns TRUE if it does and FALSE if it doesn’t. Unlike the ISERROR function, which also detects errors but includes the #NA value as non-error, the ISERR function specifically focuses on detecting all error values except for #NA. It helps professionals ensure the accuracy of their data by allowing them to identify any erroneous values within their spreadsheets quickly.
The ISERR function can be particularly useful in complex formulas or large datasets where it is essential to identify and correct errors efficiently. By intelligently utilizing the ISERR function, professionals can enhance their data analysis processes and make more reliable decisions based on accurate information.
The following example demonstrates how to calculate the result using the ISERR Excel function.
To begin, enter the complete formula “=ISERR(A2)” in cell B2. After entering each value in the previous step, press the Enter key. The resulting values will be displayed in cells B2 to B4 below.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The ISERR function, commonly used in spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, serves the purpose of identifying whether a cell or value contains an error that prevents it from being used in calculations or other operations.
- The Excel ISERR function is designed to return TRUE for any error type, excluding the #N/A error. This powerful feature allows for enhanced error handling and flexibility in your Excel formulas.
- Professionals rely on the ISERR function to ensure accurate and reliable results when dealing with complex spreadsheets or large datasets by efficiently detecting errors and facilitating appropriate corrective actions.
Syntax
The ISERR Excel function incorporates the following argument:
Value – This is a required argument. This parameter represents the expression or value that necessitates evaluation. It is commonly specified using a cell address.
How To Use ISERR Function In Excel? (With Steps)
To effectively utilize the ERROR.TYPE function in Excel, follow these steps.
#1 – Access From The Excel Ribbon
Choose the empty cell which will contain the result.
Go to the “Formulas” tab and click it.
Select the “More Function” option from the menu.
Select the “Information” option from the drop-down list.
Select “ISERR” from the drop-down menu.
A window called “Function Arguments” appears.
As the number of arguments, enter the value in the “value.”
Select OK.
#2 – Enter The Worksheet Manually
Select an empty cell for the output.
Type “=ISERR()” in the selected cell. Alternatively, type “=I” and double-click the ISERR function from the list of suggestions shown by Excel.
Press the “Enter” key.
Examples
Example #1
The following example serves to illustrate the values, and we will proceed to perform calculations using the ISERR Excel function.
In the table,
- Column A contains the Values.
- Column B contains the Output.
To calculate the output, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the cell where we have to enter the formula. In this case, we will choose cell B2.
Step 2: Enter the Formula in cell B2.
Step 3: The complete formula in cell B2 is =ISERR(A2).
Step 4: After entering each value in the previous step, press the Enter key. The resulting value in cells B2 to B6 will be displayed below, as depicted in the image provided.
Example #2 – ISERR Function With IF Function
The following example serves to illustrate the values, and we will proceed to perform calculations using the ISERR function with the IF Excel function.
In the table,
- Column A contains the Values.
- Column B contains the Per unit Cost.
- Column C contains the Sales.
- Column D contains the Unit.
To calculate the output, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the cell where we have to enter the formula. In this case, we will choose cell D2.
Step 2: Enter the Formula in cell D2.
Step 3: The complete formula in cell D2 is
=IF(ISERR(C2/B2),” Missingvalue”, C2/B2).
Step 4: After entering each value in the previous step, press the Enter key. The resulting value in cells D2 to D5 will be displayed below, as depicted in the image provided.
Example #3 – ISERR Function With SUM Function
The following example serves to illustrate the values, and we will proceed to perform calculations using the ISERR function with the SUM Excel function.
In the table,
- Column A contains the Values.
- Column B contains the Total Error.
To calculate the output, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the cell where we have to enter the formula. In this case, we will choose cell B2.
Step 2: Enter the Formula in cell B2.
Step 3: The complete formula to be entered in cell B2 is =SUM(–ISERR(A2:A9)).
Step 4: After entering each value in the previous step, press the CTRL + SHIFT + Enter key. The resulting value in cell B2 will be displayed below, as depicted in the image provided.
ISERR Function Vs ISERROR Function
The ISERR function and the ISERROR function are both powerful tools in Excel that allow users to check if a cell contains any error value. However, there are slight differences between the two functions that make them suited for different scenarios.
- The ISERR function is designed to evaluate whether a cell contains any error value other than #N/A, whereas the ISERROR function checks for any type of error value, including #N/A. This distinction can be crucial in data analysis tasks where accurate identification and handling of errors are paramount.
- Additionally, the ISERR function returns TRUE when an error value is found, while the ISERROR function returns TRUE for both non-error values and error values. This feature of the ISERREOR function makes it generally more flexible, as it can be used to detect all types of errors with a single formula.
Overall, understanding the nuances and applications of these functions can greatly enhance one’s ability to manage and manipulate data in Excel effectively.
Important Things To Note
- Employ the designated function to ascertain the presence of errors within a cell, with the exception of the #N/A error. This encompasses a range of errors, including #VALUE!, #REF!, #DIV/0!, #NUM!, #NAME?, or #NULL!.
- It is important to note that the function excludes the #N/A error. However, if it is necessary to include #N/A in our calculations, we can utilize the ISERROR function instead of ISERR.
- By combining the ISERR function with the IF function, you can effectively test for errors, and either display a customized message or perform an alternative calculation when an error is detected.
- If there are any typographical errors or misspellings within a formula, the ISERR function will generate a #NAME? Error.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following example illustrates the process of calculating the result using the ISERR Excel function.
To start, input the complete formula =ISERR(A2) into cell B2. After entering each value in the previous step, press the Enter key. The resulting values will be displayed in cells B2 to B4 below.
• Firstly, it is important to note that the function only checks for all types of errors except N/A error, which requires the use of the ISNA function. This means that if you specifically want to detect #N/A errors, you will need an additional formula.
• Secondly, it’s worth mentioning that the ISERR function does not differentiate between different types of errors. It simply returns TRUE if any kind of error is present, like “#VALUE!, #REF!, or #DIV/0!.” Therefore, if you need more specific information about the type of error occurring, you may want to consider using other error-checking functions such as ISERROR or ISEVEN.
One can activate the ISERR function in Excel using the following steps:
· Choose the empty cell which will contain the result.
· Go to the “Formulas” tab and click it.
· Select the “Information” group.
· Select “ISERR” from the drop-down menu.
· A window called “Function Arguments” appears.
· As the number of arguments, enter the value in the “value.”
· Select OK.
Download Template
This article must help understand the ISERR Excel Function’s formula and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.
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