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How to use the Error Checking Options button in Excel

Article ID: 291361 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q291361

SUMMARY

This article explains the functionality of the Error Checking Options button in Microsoft Excel.

Error Checking Options

The Error Checking Options button is displayed when the formula in an Excel worksheet cell triggers an error. In addition to the button, the cell itself is marked with a small green triangle in the upper-left corner.

When you click the button, the error type is displayed, followed by the following list of error-checking options:

Help on This Error: displays information specific to the error type
Show Calculation Steps: demonstrates all steps leading to the error
Ignore Error: allows you to accept the formula as entered, without Excel displaying the Error Checking Options smart tag
Edit in Formula Bar: allows you to edit the formula that is generating the error in the Formula Bar
Error Checking Options: opens the Options dialog box, where you can select the rules governing error checking
Show Formula Auditing Toolbar: displays the Formula Auditing toolbar

Note To access most of the preceding options, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Excel that you are running:

In Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and in earlier versions of Excel, click Error Checking on the Tools menu.
In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, click the Formulas tab, and then click Error Checking.