isnumber function array

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ISNUMBER function in an array - not working | Excel forum

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Samantha has attended:
Excel VBA Introduction course

ISNUMBER function in an array - not working

I have a workbook where a user enters the area of different crops on one worksheet ("initial data collection") and then, in theory, a second worksheet generates a list of all crops that they have present (i.e. non-zero but numeric vales in the 'area' column). The formula I'm using is:

{=IFERROR(INDEX('Initial data collection sheet'!A$40:A$103,SMALL(
IF('Initial data collection sheet'!B$40:B$103<>"",
IF('Initial data collection sheet'!B$40:B$103<>0,
IF(ISNUMBER(B$40:B$103),
ROW('Initial data collection sheet'!A$40:A$103)-ROW('Initial data collection sheet'!A$40)+1))),
ROWS('Initial data collection sheet'!A$40:'Initial data collection sheet'!A40))),
"NONE")}

where
'Initial data collection sheet' column A is a list of possible crops
'Initial data collection sheet' column B is the column for areas.

The formula worked fine without the 'ISNUMBER' function included but because there are two text headings in the middle of the range, it meant that I was getting the headings listed as well as the crops present, which is no good. With 'ISNUMBER' included, it thinks there are no crops present irrespective of what numbers are in the area column.

Using the formula evaluation tool, I have worked out that this is because the 'ISNUMBER' function delivers a 'FALSE' answer for all cells in my range. NOT(ISTEXT) does give me the crops with a non-zero area, but also gives me the headings (it evaluates 'NOT(ISTEXT)' as 'FALSE' for every cell in the range irrespective of value). I have tried manually changing the format of all the column B cells to numeric as well as using the 'clear all' function on the cells and re-entering every value manually but to no avail.

Please could you explain to me why the ISNUMBER/NOT(ISTEXT) doesn't work, and how I might otherwise remove the two headings from the list of crops present?

RE: ISNUMBER function in an array - not working

Hi Samantha,

Thank you for the forum question.

I am not sure I understand exactly what you try to do. I have tested your formulas and it seems to return what to expect.

Please find attached workbook and have a look at my example. Please type in the workbook, what you need to extract from my two columns and send the file back to me.

jens.bonde@stl-training.co.uk



Kind regards

Jens Bonde
Microsoft Office Specialist Trainer

Tel: 0207 987 3777
STL - https://www.stl-training.co.uk
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RE: ISNUMBER function in an array - not working

Hi Jens,

Thanks for your help but I've solved it (or rather, someone else solved it for me!). It was a simple mistake of omitting the sheet reference on the 'isnumber' function: it should have read 'IF(ISNUMBER('Initial data collection'!B$40:B$103)...

Thank you though for your time.

Best wishes,

Samantha


 

Excel tip:

View a unique list

You have a column with hundreds of entries, and you need to see what unique items are entered in it. Select any cell in that column, hold down Alt and press the down arrow: Excel produces an alphabetically-sorted list of unique entries in that column.

View all Excel hints and tips


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