You save a spreadsheet as a CSV file, but when you open it, the text is corrupted with strange symbols. This happens because Excel uses a default text encoding that does not support all characters. This article explains how to save and open CSV files with the correct encoding to preserve your data. Key Takeaways: … Read more
The #NULL! error appears in Excel when you use an incorrect range operator. This happens most often when a space character is typed between cell references instead of a proper operator like a colon or comma. The error indicates Excel cannot interpret the formula’s intended calculation. This article explains why the error occurs and provides … Read more
You see a #FIELD! error in your Excel worksheet where you expected to see data. This error occurs when a formula references a specific field from a linked data type, but that field cannot be found. Linked data types connect your spreadsheet to an online source, and changes to that source can break your references. … Read more
You see the #GETTING_DATA message in your Excel cells, and it stays there for minutes or never goes away. This happens when Excel is trying to pull data from an external source like a database or web query. The connection is either too slow, broken, or blocked. This article explains why the data refresh gets … Read more
You open an Excel workbook and see strange prefixes like _xlfn. before function names. This happens when a file uses newer functions but is opened in an older Excel version. The _xlfn. prefix indicates a compatibility error. This article explains why this occurs and how to fix it. Key Takeaways: Fixing the _xlfn. Prefix Error … Read more
Your VLOOKUP formula is returning a zero when the source cell is empty. This happens because Excel treats blank cells as having a value of zero in certain contexts. The result is a spreadsheet filled with zeros that should be visually empty. This behavior is a default calculation rule in Excel. The article explains why … Read more
You may find that your COUNTIF formula returns zero or an error when trying to count cells containing long text strings. This happens because the COUNTIF function has a hidden limitation. The function cannot correctly evaluate criteria that are longer than 255 characters. This article explains this specific technical limit and provides several reliable methods … Read more
Excel’s function tooltips, called ScreenTips, can sometimes vanish or appear in the wrong place. This happens when display settings are changed or the tooltip window gets stuck off-screen. You can regain control over these helpful hints to improve your workflow. This guide explains how to manage ScreenTip visibility and position. You will learn to restore … Read more
You press the F4 key in Excel to lock a cell reference, but nothing happens. The dollar signs for an absolute reference do not appear. This problem is almost always caused by a keyboard setting or a conflict with another program. This article explains the specific causes and provides the steps to restore the F4 … Read more
You see numbers in your Excel sheet that are left-aligned like text. This prevents you from using them in formulas or charts. The cells are storing the numbers as text strings, which is a common data import error. This article explains why this happens and provides steps to convert the text back to real numbers. … Read more