Fix formula error

Location on ribbon: Tab DVD Addin → Group AI → Menu AI Menu

Command ID: btnFormulaFix

What it does

Opens the AI Formula Coach window in repair mode: it reads the formula in the selected cell, sends it to the AI to find the cause of the #N/A, #VALUE!, #REF! or #DIV/0! error, and returns both an explanation and a replacement formula. You review it, edit it if you like, then apply it with one click. Ideal when a VLOOKUP in a take-off sheet or a payment summary suddenly breaks and the cause is not obvious.

How to use

1. Select exactly one cell that contains the failing formula.
2. Go to tab DVD Addin → group AI → AI Menu → Fix formula error.
3. The AI Formula Coach window opens: the Cell: line shows the address with a red badge naming the error type, and the original formula appears below it read-only.
4. Click Analyze (bottom right) to send the request. The answer appears in the Explanation panel.
5. If the AI can propose a replacement, a Suggested formula: block appears. You may edit the proposed formula text directly in that box.
6. Click Apply to cell to write the suggestion over the original formula, or Close to discard it.

Example

In a quantity summary, cell H24 holds =VLOOKUP(B24,Rates!A:D,4,0) and returns #N/A. Select H24, run Fix formula error, then click Analyze. The Explanation panel reports that the code in B24 carries a trailing space so it never matches column A of the Rates sheet. The Suggested formula block offers =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(TRIM(B24),Rates!A:D,4,0),0). Click Apply to cell and H24 returns the correct unit rate.

Notes

• The command works on the selected cell only — a multi-cell selection or an empty cell gives it nothing to analyse.
• An Internet connection and an AI API key set in Preferences ▸ AI Assistant are required; without a key Analyze returns nothing.
• Apply to cell overwrites the original formula immediately, so note or back up the old formula first.
• The Suggested formula block only appears when the AI actually produced a replacement; sometimes you get an explanation only.
• AI-generated formulas use whatever argument separator the model prefers — check , versus ; against your regional settings before applying.

Related

• Explain formula — describe a working formula in plain language without changing it.
• Formula error checking — scan a whole range for errors instead of one cell.
• Formula viewer — inspect the formulas behind a selected range at a glance.
• AI Chat — free-form help when you need to build a formula from scratch.