Wow, never seen this error before (Excel science experiment)

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

S Davis - 07 Nov 2006 21:48 GMT

Try this out for yourself in a new worksheet:

Here is the required information:

A3: Type some text
A4-A14: 2101
F4-F14: =date(2005,8,5)
I4-I14: 23974
K4-K14: 42
N3: Type some text
N4 [drag to N14]: =IF(A4=A3,N3+330,IF(M4="",(F4+330),((M4+330))))
O4 [drag to )14]:
=IF(ISERROR(IF(A4=A3,(O3+((N4-N3)*L4)),IF(((N4-TODAY())*L4)<0,"OVERDUE",((N4-TODAY())*L4)+I4))),((N4-N3)*L4),IF(A5=A4,(O4+((N5-N4)*L5)),IF(((N5-TODAY())*L5)<0,"OVERDUE",((N5-TODAY())*L5)+I5)))

Put the formula in O4 and drag down to O14 and then calculate the
workbook (F9). Alternately, keep pressing shift-F9 to watch the results
roll upward for infinity.

Strange strange strange...

Whats causing this? Is it documented? Can it be used somehow?

-Sean

Reply to this Message

Stephen Bye - 07 Nov 2006 21:56 GMT

A circular reference.
Your formula in O4 refers to the value of cell O4.

> Try this out for yourself in a new worksheet:
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> -Sean

Reply to this Message

S Davis - 07 Nov 2006 22:50 GMT

Yeah, I guess I've just never seen excel take it and run with it like
that. The fact it works is weird.

> A circular reference.
> Your formula in O4 refers to the value of cell O4.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> >
> > -Sean

Reply to this Message

Elkar - 07 Nov 2006 23:29 GMT

You have "Iterations" turned on.

TOOLS
OPTIONS
CALCULATIONS Tab
Uncheck "Iterations"
OK

Now Excel should behave "normally" towards Circular References.

HTH,
Elkar

> Yeah, I guess I've just never seen excel take it and run with it like
> that. The fact it works is weird.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> > >
> > > -Sean

Reply to this Message