ISERROR Excel Function

We can use the ISERROR() with the MATCH function in the following way.
Let us see the steps with an example.

The following image shows two tables. The first table contains a list of athletes who qualified for Round 1 in an event. And the second table contains the complete list of athletes who participated in the Round 1 of the event.



Suppose we need to update the qualification status of all the athletes in column D and display the data in column E of the second table. Then, we can perform the calculations in the target cells using the ISERROR() with the functions MATCH, INDEX, and IF.

• Step 1: Select the target cell E3, enter the below formula, and press Enter.
=IF(ISERROR(INDEX($B$3:$B$9,MATCH(D3,$A$3:$A$9,0))),”Not Qualified”,INDEX($B$3:$B$9,MATCH(D3,$A$3:$A$9,0)))



• Step 2: Drag the fill handle downwards to copy the formula in cells E4:E12.



Let us see how the formula works using the target cell E12 expression.

First, the MATCH() inside the INDEX(), within the ISERROR(), searches the name in cell D12, Lowell Vasquez, in the list of qualified athletes in column A. As there is no match, the function returns the #N/A error. And as the INDEX() has to check for the #N/A error in the cell range B3:B9, it also returns the #N/A error. Now, since the input to the ISERROR() is the #N/A error, it returns TRUE. Finally, the IF condition is true; thus, its output displayed in the target cell D12 is the term Not Qualified.

We can use ISERROR in Excel VBA using the method, IsError(expression).

We shall see the steps with an example.
Consider the following table. Column A contains a set of input data.



And suppose we have to perform an error check for the given data and display the output in column B. Then, here is how we can apply the ISERROR() in Excel VBA and populate the specific target cells.

• Step 1: With the worksheet containing the above table open, press the keyboard shortcut Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.



• Step 2: Choose the required VBAProject from the left menu and select the option Module under the Insert tab to open the Module1 window.





• Step 3: Type the VBA code in the Module1 window to apply the ISERROR() in the specific target cells in the active worksheet.

Sub ISERROR_fn()

Range(“B2”) = IsError(Range(“A2”))
Range(“B3”) = IsError(Range(“A3”))
Range(“B4”) = IsError(Range(“A4”))
Range(“B5”) = IsError(Range(“A5”))
Range(“B6”) = IsError(Range(“A6”))
Range(“B7”) = IsError(Range(“A7”))
Range(“B8”) = IsError(Range(“A8”))

End Sub



• Step 4: Click the Run Sub/UserForm icon in the menu to execute the VBA code entered in the Module1 window.



We can now open the active worksheet to see the error check data populated in the target cells B2:B8.



The ISERROR() used in each command line accepts the cell address of the corresponding data in column A. And if the specified data is an error value, the function returns TRUE, which gets assigned to the respective target cell. On the other hand, the function returns FALSE when the given data in column A is not an error value.

The difference between ISERROR() and IFERROR() is that the ISERROR() checks if the given value is an error or not, returning a logical value accordingly. On the other hand, the IFERROR() returns the value you specify when the input test expression or data is an error and the outcome of the tested expression otherwise.