Question

Which error occur when a column is not wide enough or a negative date or time is used? State the various steps to correct this error.

Hint:

A row of hash signs (#####) shows when the column is too narrow or a date or time is negative. Give the AutoFit, Shrink to Fit and format steps.

Answer 1

Step 1: Name the error:
When the column is too narrow to show the content, or a date or time value is negative, the cell shows a row of hash signs.
This is the ##### error.

Step 2: Reasons:
Reason 1: the column is not wide enough to display the number, date or time.
Reason 2: the cell holds a negative date or time value. In the 1900 date system, dates and times must be positive values.

Step 3: Correct the narrow column: widen it:
(i) Select the column by clicking the column header.
(ii) On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format and then click AutoFit Column Width.
Another way is to double-click the boundary to the right of the column heading.

Step 4: Correct the narrow column: shrink the content:
(iii) Select the column.
(iv) On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, click Format Cells and then click the Alignment tab.
(v) Select the Shrink to Fit check box. The content now fits inside the column.

Step 5: Correct the negative date or time:
If we subtract dates or times, we must build the formula correctly. The earlier date or time must be taken away from the later one, not the reverse.
If the formula is correct but the result is still negative, we can display the value by formatting the cell with a format that is not a date or time format.
1. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format Cells and then click the Number tab.
2. Select a format that is not a date or time format.

Step 6: Match with the 6 marks:

Part	Content	Marks
Name	##### error	1
Column too narrow	AutoFit Column Width; Shrink to Fit	2.5
Negative date or time	Positive values; correct formula; change to non-date format	2.5

Final Answer:
The error is #####. It is corrected by widening the column (AutoFit Column Width) or using Shrink to Fit, and by making date and time values positive or showing them in a number format that is not a date or time format.