Excel: Database Functions Return Incorrect Results, Errors

Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
Article ID: Q61489

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.0, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, when a field name in a database is entered as a number or date, any type of function using the criteria will not work correctly.

A data form will display field names that are dates as their serial number equivalents. For example, if the date "8/1/90" is a field name, the data form will display it as "31624" (the serial number for 8/1/90). This cannot be reformatted.

When attempting to extract data into a range containing number or date field names, the error message "Extract range is not valid" will appear.

WORKAROUND

To correct these problems, change the field name to a text string. A text string can be a combination of alpha and numeric characters.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:
Additional reference words: 1.0 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.5 1.50 2.2
2.20 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00

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Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
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