We need to see the formulas in cells where you're getting the #N/A entries.
Typically the #N/A entry appears in formulas involving functions like
VLOOKUP().

You can "inject" a #N/A error in a VLookup() accidentally by allowing the
lookup table address to adjust dynamically. Consider this formula in B2 on a
sheet
=VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!R1:V100,2,False)
and that formula works fine, returning the data from column S on Sheet2
where the value in colum R of Sheet2 matches the value of A2 on this sheet.

Now, you "fill" this formula down your worksheet because you have over data
to return also, but because of the way you've written the addresses, they all
change! In row 3, the formula becomes:
=VLOOKUP(A3,Sheet2!R2:V101,2,False)
You actually wanted the change from A2 to A3, but you did not want the
R1:V100 to change to R2:V101 because eventually, it would become something
like
=VLOOKUP(A102,Sheet2!R101:V200,2,False)
which wouldn't be looking at your data table at all, and would always return
#N/A!!

To fix that, you'd change the initial formula to this:
=VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!$R$1:$V$100,2,False)
and that keeps you always looking at the same area on Sheet2 no matter how
you fill the formula on the sheet that the formula is on.

I hope this didn't take us too far off base for you -- your problem may not
have anything to with VLOOKUP(), but it could be something close to that type
of situation.




"Bill R" wrote:

Thanks Niek.

The formulae in SpreadsheetA are in the format
='[SpreadsheetB.xls]Data'!$V$5

The data to which they refer in SpreadsheetB is numeric.

All the data cells SpreadsheetB are formatted identically

What I mean by "Given that the displayed data is correct proves the link is
correct "? is this. If it is capable of displaying the correct data from
the cell in SpreadsheetB the link is correct. The mystery is why the
display changes to the error message but only on some cells when
SpreadsheetB is not open. If the formula returned correct information (or
even incorrect information) consistently then it should be easy to trace and
correct. It is the inconsistency that's beating me!

Another oddity is that when going into Formulae Editing, both Trace
Dependents and Trace Precedents return arrows between the error cell (say
A30) and a cell in row C (C28) which is a text cell with absolutely no
connection to the error cell. This is consistent through the column in
Spreadsheet A (those that return correct information and also those that
return an error).

Bill R
"Niek Otten" wrote in message
...
Hi Bill,

Impossible to answer if we don't get the *exact* formulas in SpreadsheetA
and the formulas or values in SpreadsheetB
And what do you mean he "Given that the displayed data is correct
proves the link is correct "?

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel


"Bill R" wrote in message
...
I have SpreadsheetA which (in a column) takes data from SpreadsheetB (in a
row). (A simple = ...). So far so good and both spreadsheets are saved
and closed. The correct information is displayed in SpradsheetA on
opening but, on opening SpreadsheetB information in ONLY some cells change
to #N/A. Given that the displayed data is correct proves the link is
correct but why should it change?

Any suggestions gratefully received as I just can't think of an answer.

Thanks.

Bill R




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