How to Use the ISNA Function in WPS on Windows

Use ISNA through 3 how-to topics, all available without membership, and jump to each topic from the index below.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enter the ISNA function

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet and select the cell where you want to show the result.
2. In the formula bar or directly in the cell, type =ISNA(.
3. Enter the value, cell, or formula you want to test, such as A2 or a lookup result.
4. Type the closing parenthesis ) and press Enter.
5. Check the result: if the target value is #N/A, the result is TRUE; otherwise it is FALSE.

Success Criteria

• On-screen result: The target cell shows TRUE or FALSE.
• What you can do next: You can copy the formula, fill it down, or nest it with other functions.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: If you forget the closing parenthesis, the formula will not calculate correctly.
• Environment note: If the tested content is not actually an error value, ISNA will not return TRUE.

2. Use ISNA inside IF to check results

Entry point: Select the result cell → formula bar

1. Prepare a formula result that may return #N/A, such as a lookup formula.
2. In the target cell, enter a formula like =IF(ISNA(A2),"Not found",A2).
3. Press Enter to confirm the formula.
4. When A2 is #N/A, the cell shows your custom text; otherwise it shows the original result.
5. Edit the prompt text or replacement result as needed.

Success Criteria

• On-screen result: The error value is replaced with clearer text or a fallback result.
• What you can do next: You can copy the formula to other rows and continue using it.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: Text content should be enclosed in double quotation marks.
• Environment note: If the referenced cell position is wrong, the result may not match your expectation.

3. Check whether a cross-sheet reference returns #N/A

Entry point: Open the target worksheet → select the result cell → formula bar

1. In the current worksheet, select the cell where you want to display the check result.
2. Enter a formula with a cross-sheet reference, such as =ISNA(Sheet2!A2).
3. Press Enter to confirm.
4. Review the returned result to see whether the referenced cell is #N/A.
5. If needed, continue combining it with IF, AND, or other functions.

Success Criteria

• On-screen result: The current worksheet shows TRUE or FALSE.
• What you can do next: You can continue screening, marking, or replacing cross-sheet data.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: An incorrect sheet name or cell reference can affect the result.
• Environment note: When the source data changes, the result updates accordingly.