Common Causes of the ‘That Function is Not Valid’ Error in Excel Filters
If you’ve been working with Excel, you may have encountered the frustrating ‘That Function is Not Valid’ error when attempting to apply filters. This error can halt your productivity and lead to confusion, especially if you’re unsure about its causes. In this article, we’ll explore the common reasons behind this error and provide solutions to help you fix it quickly.
Using Unsupported Functions in Filter Criteria
One of the most frequent causes of the ‘That Function is Not Valid’ error is utilizing functions in your filter criteria that are not supported by Excel’s filtering system. For instance, using array functions or non-standard functions like TEXTJOIN can trigger this error. It’s essential to ensure that any function you use for filtering should be compatible with Excel’s built-in capabilities.
Incorrect Syntax in Filter Formulas
Another common issue arises from incorrect syntax within your filter formulas. If there are typos or misplaced parentheses, Excel will struggle to interpret your command correctly, leading to an invalid function error message. Always double-check your formulas for accuracy before applying them as filters.
Data Type Mismatch
Data type mismatches can also result in errors when filtering data in Excel. For example, if your filter criteria are looking for text strings but the data range contains numerical values (or vice versa), it may trigger an invalid function error. Make sure that your criteria match the data types of the columns you’re trying to filter.
Filters Applied on Merged Cells
Filters do not work well with merged cells and may cause unexpected errors such as ‘That Function is Not Valid.’ If any part of your dataset includes merged cells, it’s best practice to unmerge them before applying filters or adjust how you’re organizing your data without merging.
Corrupted Workbook
Finally, a corrupted workbook could lead to various functional issues within Excel, including problems with filters resulting in invalid function messages appearing frequently. To check for corruption, try opening a new workbook and replicating similar settings or saving a copy of your current file using a different format (like .xlsx) which may help eliminate corruption issues.
If you’ve experienced the ‘That Function is Not Valid’ error while using filters in Excel, don’t panic. By understanding these common causes and addressing them systematically—whether through correcting formulas or adjusting data types—you’ll be back on track and able to utilize Excel’s powerful filtering features efficiently.
This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.
