ISERR Excel Formula
In this tutorial, you will learn the ISERR excel formula. Excel ISERR Function is useful to evaluate a data, whether it has an error besides #N/A value or not, then gives TRUE or FALSE based on the evaluation result.
Why do We Need to Learn Excel ISERR Function?
In the data processing on a spreadsheet, sometimes we need to check whether an entry that we have has an error value besides #N/A or not. This is needed so we can make sure that the error that we have is not because of the data unavailability as the result of lookup formulas like INDEX MATCH, HLOOKUP or VLOOKUP thus we can anticipate the error from the data more accurately based on its root cause.
As an example of that need for our work, imagine we are checking the lookup results that we have produced for the detailed information of our company’s branch region’s sales performance. If we use lookup formulas to help getting those results and we anticipate errors using ISNA or ISERROR, then maybe we will anticipate wrongly because we will assume all the errors on the results are the same kind or they are only caused by the unavailability of the information when we look for them in the database reference during the lookup process. On the other hand, we might want to give different notes for the entries where errors beside #N/A show up.
One of the alternatives to do it right is working on it manually. But, of course, it will be very troublesome if we have to look at the lookup results one by one and write the note based on that, especially if the results that we have to check are many.
To help in speeding up the checking process, then you can use the ISERR excel formula. Excel ISERR function will help you evaluate an error and give TRUE if it is not an #N/A. Excel ISERR function is very useful to be learned and understood if you often deal with the identification and anticipation of error kinds in this spreadsheet tool.
What is the ISERR Excel Formula?
ISERR excel formula is a formula with the usage objective to evaluate data and give TRUE if it is an error besides #N/A or FALSE if it has another value. It is often used as the input of the IF formula because IF can give a further result based on the outcome of the evaluation.
Excel ISERR function is one of the IS functions in the spreadsheet with unique usefulness for you when each of these members is used.
Generally, the input of this formula can be described as follows:
=ISERR(value)
Note:
value = the value to be evaluated whether it has an error besides #N/A or not
How to Use the Excel ISERR Function?
The following will explain how to write the ISERR excel formula step-by-step. The only input in excel ISERR function is the data which value wants to be evaluated (usually in the form of cell coordinate or another formula)
Using ISERR Excel Formula
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Type equal sign ( = ) in the cell where you want to put the result in
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Type ISERR (can be with large and small letters) and open bracket sign after =
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Input the data / the process that produces the data / cell coordinate where it is after open bracket sign
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Type close bracket sign
- Press Enter
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The process is done!
Exercise
After you have learned how to use excel ISERR function, now is the time you deepen your understanding by doing the exercise below!
Download the exercise file and answer all the questions. Download the answer key file if you have done the exercise and want to check your answers or probably when you are confused about how to answer the questions.
Link for the exercise file:
Download here
Instructions
Use the ISERR excel formula to answer all of these questions! Answer in the gray-colored cells on each appropriate row number!- Does the cell on the left contain error besides #N/A? Answer with TRUE or FALSE!
- Does the cell on the left contain error besides #N/A? Answer with V if yes and FALSE if no! Use IF formula in excel also to help you answer this question!
- Does the number on the left have an error value besides #N/A if it is divided by 0? Answer with YES if yes and NO if no! Use IF formula in excel too to help you answer this question!
Link for the answer key file:
Download here
Additional Note
If you want to evaluate whether your data has an error value generally or just #N/A, then use ISERROR (general) or ISNA (#N/A).
