Excel functions stopped working

Question

Hi all,

I am confused.

I was using the new LAMBDA and BYCOL functions for the last few months and now when I try to call them a #name error is returned.

I am on a work computer and the updates are managed by the IT team. I have also sent an email to the IT team, but I thought that maybe some of the people on this forum might have a better understanding of why this has happened.

The Version is:

Version 2108 (Build 14326.20962 Click-to-Run)

Many thanks

Answer 1

Hi JoeWSPdd,

Thanks for your valuable feedback and sharing updates with us and I really appreciate your effort and your precious time doing. First, please accept my apologize (its my humbly request please don't mind) because you meet such an issue and I understand it effort on your daily work.

And I appreciate your kind words.

I test with your provided file, and it seem work fine from my side. Here is screenshot for your reference:

Also, I just send you reply via PM with attach Excel file, could you please open in your system and check if you get same error message or not.

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Sincerely,

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 2

Hi Waqas,

Thank you for your reply. I have sent you a sample file in private massage.

Here are several notes that might help define the issue:

• The functions (that I know of) that are not working are: LAMBDA, BYROW, BYCOL
• I was able to use these functions yesterday with no issue (no error returned)
• When I left work yesterday, I put the laptop in sleep mode
• When I returned in the morning, the functions would not work
• I have restarted the computer
• I have signed out of office, shut down the computer and restarted
• I have tried the quick repair tool
• I have tried the online repair tool
• The issue persists in all workbooks / sheets (old, saved files and new created files)
• I cannot confirm if anyone else in the organization is experiencing the same issue. I know one person is, but they have a different version / build of excel running
• The Formula AutoComplete feature is checked on in options; when I partially fill the formula into the cell, nothing shows for the above mentioned formulae. It does show for other formulae

I hope this helps to clarify the issue somewhat, and thank you for your assistance. It is greatly appreciated

Answer 3

Dear JoeWSPdd,

First, my pleasure to assist you.

As per your description, please don’t worry, we can work together to narrow down and resolve the situation.

It seems the functions (LAMBDA and BYCOL) return #name error in your Excel sheet.

If my understanding is right, for the situation you encountered, we do understand the inconvenience caused and apologize for it. And I just tested from my side using LAMBDA and BYCOL function in Excel and it seems it work fine from my side. Here is my test screenshot for your reference:

As you mentioned, "now when I try to call them a #name error is returned." sound like there is a typo problem in the formula name or formula has a reference to a name that is not defined in Excel because generally the #NAME? error appears in the formula is because there is a typo in the formula name.

May I know does issue happened do specific Excel worksheet? If possible, could you please try to create a new Excel file (for test purpose) and use the AMBDA and BYCOL function in Excel and check if there is any difference.

Meanwhile, if you don’t mind and if it is convenient for you, could you please send copy of your Excel file to me so that I can look from my side, and I will check this behaviour and help you to fix and verify the result with you.

If there is confidential information and to protect your confidential information, you can send it to me in Private Message

In the meantime, could you please confirm the other users (with same Excel version) in your organization meet the same error (#name) it will help for us to narrow down your issue.

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Sincerely,

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 4

Thank you for the quick reply.

Unfortunately neither of these solutions fixed the problem.

Thanks for the help though.

Answer 5

You are using the latest version and since the function worked before, try to do the following:

Sign-out from the Excel app> Quit all Office apps> Restart PC> Sign in back and check it.

If still not, Perform Online Repair: Repair an Office application (microsoft.com) (Contact IT team)