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Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an error"

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    Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an error"

    Hi,

    I have a workbook that has several tabs. The main tabs are the "Data Set" and 4 tabs which are for each financial quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). The formulas in Q1 work. The excel tables in Q1 sheet have "Q1" in their name.

    I have now copied and pasted the Q1 sheet (which includes formulas) and renamed these sheets "Q2", "Q3", Q4". When I click ctrl H: "find" "Q1" and "replace" with "Q2", I notice the text values of Q1 changes to Q2. However there is also an error "the formula you typed contains an error" and none of the formulas are changed. I manually renamed the tables in Q2 to contain Q2 in case that was the issue. It still didn't work.

    General info:

    The "Find what" and "Replace with" have "no formula set".
    The "match case" and "match entire cell contents" is unchecked.

    I am very puzzled on what to do. I definitely do not want to change all the formulas manually as I will likely make a mistake and it will take a LONG time!

    Any help is much appreciated.

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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    Fast answers need clear examples. Post a small Excel sheet (not a picture) showing realistic & representative sample data WITHOUT confidential information (10-20 rows, not thousands...) and some manually calculated results. Just before posting, scroll down to GO ADVANCED, click, and then scroll down to MANAGE ATTACHMENTS and click again. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    Be aware that Q1 will be seen as a cell reference, so any reference to a cell Q1 will also be changed.
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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    I honestly think it is too complex for me to come up with a dummy set. I tried to explain it the best I could and hopefully someone has come across a similar situation.

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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    OK - give an example of ONE of the formulae that contains the Q1 that you wish to change.

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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    at least copy the formula that works in Q1, and perhaps we can show you how to copy it correctly to other Q's

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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    Hi there.

    A picture is worth 1,000 words. An Excel sheet is worth 1,000 pictures.

    Please read the yellow banner about sample worksheets, at the top of the screen. Act on its guidelines and post a SMALL sample sheet.
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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    Another Idea -
    change the tab names as follows:

    "sheet - Q1","sheet - Q2",Etc.
    Or "Q1 2020", "Q2 2020", Etc

    to avoid what AliGW said - Q1 alone can also be seen as a cell reference, and when you instruct the replacement - the formula changes other essential parts
    Last edited by Limor_OP; 01-16-2021 at 07:52 AM.

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    Re: Why is "Find & Select" function coming up with "the formula you typed contains an erro

    Thanks for your suggestions!! I re-tried trying to do a simple mock sheet but it was too tricky for me as the formulas relate to a variety of different sheets.

    I ended up just highlighting and trying "find and replace" at different sections of the worksheet and it worked fine in all the columns when I did it like that.
    For some reason I don't understand, when I wanted to do the whole sheet it came up with an error message.
    At least I didn't have to change each formula individually!! So hopefully this helps someone else too. (If someone knows why it might do this I would be interested to find out)

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