Excel Err Msg: "Input Cell Reference Is Not Valid"

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q95811

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 2.21, 3.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
  • Macintosh 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

If you are using a data table in Microsoft Excel and the row or column input cell refers to an external reference, you may receive the following error message: 

   Input Cell Reference Is Not Valid

CAUSE

The row and column input cell must refer to a cell on the active worksheet outside of the table range. This feature of data tables is by design.

WORKAROUND

To avoid the error message, you can use a cell with a linking formula ("=Sheet1!A1") as your input cell. That way the input cell is on the same worksheet as the Data Table and the "real" input cell is on another sheet.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide 2," version 4.0, pages 2-8 "User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 266-270

Additional query words: 5.00 2.00 2.01 2.10 2.20 2.21 3.00 4.00
4.00a criteria
Keywords : kberrmsg
Version : WINDOWS: 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0; MACINTOSH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 98
Platform : MACINTOSH OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb

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Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
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