Find the next thing to check.
Look up a question, inspect a formula’s structure, then try a working example.
Published explanations come from 19 original troubleshooting topics. The lookup inspects structure without calculating a pasted formula. For generated advice and an explicit local trial, use the local formula assistant. Current task observations remain available inside task and function worksheets.
Ask a new Excel question, then try the formula
Generate an English explanation with Chrome’s local model. Suggestions can be wrong; inspect the assumptions and run a separate trial on your sample. Opening this section does not generate or execute a formula.
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Unselected columns keep literal text, including leading zeros, = signs and error-looking labels. Selected numeric columns accept plain finite numbers; their empty cells are blank.
| Cell row | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Region | Status | Amount |
| 2 | East | Paid | 10 |
| 3 | West | Paid | 20 |
| 4 | East | Pending | 30 |
| 5 | East | Paid | -5 |
The trial writes only to J2 in a copy of these literal cells. It allows at most 144 result cells and stops a calculation that exceeds its time limit. No model suggestion is run automatically.
Your question, cells and answer remain in this tab unless you download them. They are not put in the URL or browser storage. Model files may need a browser-managed download. No paid backend or prompt upload is configured.
Published help topic
Read the formula’s structure
Check the opening equals sign, quotes, parentheses and argument separators.
- Start with = and balance parentheses outside quoted text. Double quotes delimit formula text; a doubled quote escapes a quote within that text.
- This browser editor uses commas between function arguments. A semicolon inside an array constant has a different role; do not replace every semicolon blindly.
- Structural hints do not evaluate a formula or validate its whole grammar. Use Calculate or Apply formula, then inspect the actual result.
Reference: Microsoft: formula troubleshooting
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