iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI · error · ArgumentException

field ' ' not found in source headers

Error message

field '{fieldName}' not found in source headers: {available}

What it means

The values= counterpart of error 327: a non-numeric field-name token in a value spec could not be matched to any source header. The matching uses the same case-insensitive, trimmed, NFC-normalised FieldNameMatches helper as the rows/cols/filters resolver, so the throw is identical in shape and the message lists the available headers.

Solutions

1. Match the header spelling exactly (see the 'available' list in the message)
2. If you meant a calculated field, ensure it is added in the same call so it resolves through the calc-field path
3. Use the column index if the name is unstable

Example fix

// before
values="Revnue:sum"
// after
values="Revenue:sum"

var missing = valueFieldNames.Where(n => !headers.Any(h => FieldNameMatches(h, n))).ToList();
if (missing.Count > 0) throw new InvalidOperationException($"Unknown value fields: {string.Join(", ", missing)}");

static bool ValueFieldExists(string[] headers, string name) =>
    headers.Any(h => h.Trim().Normalize(NormalizationForm.FormC)
        .Equals(name.Trim().Normalize(NormalizationForm.FormC), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));

try { BuildPivot(props); }
catch (ArgumentException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains("not found in source headers"))
{ /* re-prompt with the available list */ }

When it happens

Trigger: values=Revnue:sum when the header is 'Revenue'; values=Sale:sum:percent_of_total where 'Sale' is a typo; referencing a calculated-field name before it has been added (calc field names are not source headers).

Common situations: Typos; referencing calc fields by name in values= instead of letting them auto-attach; source columns renamed between sessions; locale-specific spellings.

Related errors

• field index out of range (0.. )
• field index out of range (0.. )
• field ' ' not found in source headers
• calculatedField ' ' collides with an existing field name
• calculatedField ' ' requires a non-empty formula

AI-assisted analysis of iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI@1ced45e900 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/75f615258f4be084. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/officecli/Core/PivotTableHelper.Parse.cs:361

                // the value-field, producing an empty pivot with no error.
                // Reject up front with the available-index range so users
                // catch the typo immediately (mirrors the throw used for
                // unknown field names).
                if (idx < 0 || idx >= headers.Length)
                    throw new ArgumentException(
                        $"field index {idx} out of range (0..{headers.Length - 1})");
                fieldIdx = idx;
            }
            else
            {
                for (int i = 0; i < headers.Length; i++)
                    if (FieldNameMatches(headers[i], fieldName)) { fieldIdx = i; break; }
                // CONSISTENCY(field-name-validation): non-numeric token must
                // resolve. Same throw shape as ParseFieldList.
                if (fieldIdx < 0)
                {
                    var available = string.Join(", ", headers.Where(h => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(h)));
                    throw new ArgumentException($"field '{fieldName}' not found in source headers: {available}");
                }
            }

            if (fieldIdx >= 0 && fieldIdx < headers.Length)
            {
                // R34-3: a user-supplied 4th (or 3rd-when-no-showAs) segment
                // becomes the DataField.Name (the column header rendered in
                // the pivot output). Falls back to "{Func} of {Header}" when
                // absent — matches Excel's default and preserves the
                // round-trip shape the existing prefix-strip relies on.
                var displayName = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(customName)
                    ? customName!
                    : $"{char.ToUpper(func[0])}{func[1..]} of {headers[fieldIdx]}";
                result.Add((fieldIdx, func, showAs, displayName));
            }
        }
        return result;
    }

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