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Information function

NA

Returns the #N/A error on purpose, for example to leave a gap in a chart.

CommonDifficulty 1050 · CapableUsage rank #159 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Returns the #N/A error on purpose. Charts skip #N/A points, so it is the way to leave a gap in a line rather than plotting zero.

The shape of it

Syntax
=NA()

Worked examples

  • The error

    =NA() → #N/A

    The error itself.

  • Chart gap

    =IF(B2="",NA(),B2) → #N/A

    B2 is blank, so the chart skips this point instead of dropping to zero.

  • Detect it

    =IF(ISNA(A1),"missing","ok") → missing

    Testing for it later.

Worth knowing

  • Line charts break at #N/A; use it for future months not yet reported.
  • Format #N/A cells with a white font to hide them in tables.
  • IFNA and ISNA handle it downstream.

Where it goes wrong

  • Sums over the range return #N/A; use AGGREGATE or SUMIF to skip.
  • Looks like a mistake to people unfamiliar with the trick.

Related

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