Spreadsheet Problem Solver

Most spreadsheet problems don’t begin with a function name. You notice something wrong: a lookup returns no match, an imported code loses its zeros, a count disagrees with the visible rows, or a formula works in one program but not another.

Start with the symptom. Each guide below gives you a short diagnosis, reproducible example, a safer correction, and links to the relevant function reference. We distinguish independently checked outcomes from testing performed inside the named spreadsheet application.

How to avoid making the problem worse

1. Keep the original file. For CSV problems, do not overwrite the source until you know which fields are text and which are numbers or dates.
2. Check the underlying value. The visible cell format is not necessarily the cell’s data type.
3. Fix one representative row first. Test your correction before copying it to thousands of rows.
4. Confirm your software and release. Spreadsheet applications can use different syntax, matching rules, array behavior, and import dialogs.
5. Only then apply the fix broadly. Keep a before/after column or a copy so you can verify the results.

For independent checks of a local CSV, use the CSV Import Doctor. For formula moves between programs, start with the Formula Migration Helper or detailed compatibility comparisons.

Have a different problem?

Try the broader Guides by Task or search the site’s function directories. A missing published guide is not proof that your application does not support the function. If a guide is incorrect, send a specific example.