Calc Guide

Introduction to Calc error codes
Calc provides feedback for errors of miscalculation, incorrect use of functions, invalid
cell references and values, and other user initiated mistakes. The feedback may be
displayed within the cell that contains the error (Figure 353) or on the status bar
(Figure 354) or in both, depending on the type of error. Generally speaking, if the
error occurs in the cell that is selected (or contains the cursor), the error message is
displayed on the status bar.
As an example, Figure 353 shows the error code returned when a column is too
narrow to display the entire formatted date. The date displayed within the input line,
04/05/1998, would fit within the cell without a problem, but the format used by the
cell produces the date value Sunday, April 05, 1998.
Figure 353: Error codes displayed within cells
When the cell displaying the #REF error code in Figure 353 is selected, the status
bar displays the error message as shown in Figure 354. This message is more
descriptive than the message displayed in the cell, but it still may not provide enough
information to correctly diagnose the problem. For fuller explanations, consult the
following tables and the Help topic, Error Codes in OpenOffice.org Calc.
Figure 354: An error message displayed in the status bar.
This appendix presents error codes in two tables. This first table explains error
messages which are displayed within the cell that actually contains the error. Except
in the case of the ### error, they all correspond to a Calc error code number. The
second table explains all of the error codes, listed by code number, including those
errors codes in the first table.
422 OpenOffice.org 3.3 Calc Guide