XL: EVALUATE() Function with INDIRECT() Returns #REF! ErrorLast reviewed: February 3, 1998Article ID: Q131384 |
The information in this article applies to:
SYMPTOMSIn Microsoft Excel, if you use the EVALUATE() function in an XLM macro to return the value of a formula that contains the INDIRECT() function, the value returned by EVALUATE() is the #REF! error value.
CAUSEThis problem occurs, for example, when you use the EVALUATE() function in a macro to return the result of another function if this function returns a value using INDIRECT(). In the following example, the EVALUATE() function in cell A2 returns the #REF! error value when you run the macro Test.
A1: TEST A2: =EVALUATE("TEST2()") A3: =RETURN() A4: A5: TEST2 A6: =RETURN(INDIRECT("NAME"))NOTE: This problem does not occur in Microsoft Excel version 4.0.
WORKAROUNDMicrosoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.aspTo work around this behavior, you can create a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications function in Microsoft Excel to display a value returned by a second function (Test2 in this example) that evaluates a defined name as in the following example:
Function Test() ' Display value returned by function Test2. MsgBox Test2 End Function Function Test2() ' Return the value of the defined name "name" on the workbook. ' Note that you can replace the defined name with a cell ' reference to return the value stored in a particular cell. Test2 = Range("Name").Value End Function MORE INFORMATIONYou can use the INDIRECT() function in a macro or on a worksheet to return the reference specified by the function argument. You can use INDIRECT() to return the value stored in a cell indicated by a reference in another cell. You can use the EVALUATE() function to evaluate a formula or expression that is in the form of text and return the result.
REFERENCESFor more information about INDIRECT, choose the Search button in Help and type:
INDIRECT functionFor more information about EVALUATE, choose the Search button in Macro Functions Help and type:
EVALUATE function |
Additional query words: XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 7.00a
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