Excel^® 2010 Formulas

Table of Contents

Introduction

What You Need to Know

What You Need to Have

Conventions in This Book

Keyboard conventions

Mouse conventions

What the icons mean

How This Book Is Organized

Part I: Basic Information

Part II: Using Functions in Your Formulas

Part III: Financial Formulas

Part IV: Array Formulas

Part V: Miscellaneous Formula Techniques

Part VI: Developing Custom Worksheet Functions

Part VII: Appendixes

How to Use This Book

About the Companion CD-ROM

About the Power Utility Pak Offer

Reach Out

Part I: Basic Information

Chapter 1: Excel in a Nutshell

The History of Excel

It started with VisiCalc

Then came Lotus

Microsoft enters the picture

Excel versions

The Object Model Concept

The Workings of Workbooks

Worksheets

Chart sheets

Macro sheets and dialog sheets

The Excel User Interface

A new UI

The Ribbon

Backstage View

Shortcut menus and the Mini Toolbar

Customizing the UI

Smart Tags

Task pane

Drag and drop

Keyboard shortcuts

Customized on-screen display

Data entry

Object and cell selecting

The Excel Help System

Cell Formatting

Numeric formatting

Stylistic formatting

Tables

Worksheet Formulas and Functions

Objects on the Drawing Layer

Shapes

Illustrations

Linked picture objects

Controls

Charts

Sparkline graphics

Customizing Excel

Macros

Add-in programs

Internet Features

Analysis Tools

Database access

Outlines

Scenario management

Pivot tables

Auditing capabilities

Solver add-in

Protection Options

Protecting formulas from being overwritten

Protecting a workbook's structure

Password-protecting a workbook

Chapter 2: Basic Facts about Formulas

Entering and Editing Formulas

Formula elements

Entering a formula

Pasting names

Spaces and line breaks

Formula limits

Sample formulas

Editing formulas

Using Operators in Formulas

Reference operators

Sample formulas that use operators

Operator precedence

Nested parentheses

Calculating Formulas

Cell and Range References

Creating an absolute or a mixed reference

Referencing other sheets or workbooks

Making an Exact Copy of a Formula

Converting Formulas to Values

Hiding Formulas

Errors in Formulas

Dealing with Circular References

Goal Seeking

A goal seeking example

More about goal seeking

Chapter 3: Working with Names

What's in a Name?

A Name's Scope

Referencing names

Referencing names from another workbook

Conflicting names

The Name Manager

Creating names

Editing names

Deleting names

Shortcuts for Creating Cell and Range Names

The New Name dialog box

Creating names using the Name box

Creating names automatically

Naming entire rows and columns

Names created by Excel

Creating Multisheet Names

Working with Range and Cell Names

Creating a list of names

Using names in formulas

Using the intersection operators with names

Using the range operator with names

Referencing a single cell in a multicell named range

Applying names to existing formulas

Applying names automatically when creating a formula

Unapplying names

Names with errors

Viewing named ranges

Using names in charts

How Excel Maintains Cell and Range Names

Inserting a row or column

Deleting a row or column

Cutting and pasting

Potential Problems with Names

Name problems when copying sheets

Name problems when deleting sheets

The Secret to Understanding Names

Naming constants

Naming text constants

Using worksheet functions in named formulas

Using cell and range references in named formulas

Using named formulas with relative references

Advanced Techniques That Use Names

Using the INDIRECT function with a named range

Using the INDIRECT function to create a named range with a fixed address

Using arrays in named formulas

Creating a dynamic named formula

Part II: Using Functions in Your Formulas

Chapter 4: Introducing Worksheet Functions

What Is a Function?

Simplify your formulas

Perform otherwise impossible calculations

Speed up editing tasks

Provide decision-making capability

More about functions

Function Argument Types

Names as arguments

Full-column or full-row as arguments

Literal values as arguments

Expressions as arguments

Other functions as arguments

Arrays as arguments

Ways to Enter a Function into a Formula

Entering a function manually

Using the Function Library commands

Using the Insert Function dialog box

More tips for entering functions

Function Categories

Financial functions

Date and time functions

Math and trig functions

Statistical functions

Lookup and reference functions

Database functions

Text functions

Logical functions

Information functions

User-defined functions

Engineering functions

Cube functions

Compatibility functions

Other function categories

Chapter 5: Manipulating Text

A Few Words about Text

How many characters in a cell?

Numbers as text

Text Functions

Determining whether a cell contains text

Working with character codes

Determining whether two strings are identical

Joining two or more cells

Displaying formatted values as text

Displaying formatted currency values as text

Removing excess spaces and nonprinting characters

Counting characters in a string

Repeating a character or string

Creating a text histogram

Padding a number

Changing the case of text

Extracting characters from a string

Replacing text with other text

Finding and searching within a string

Searching and replacing within a string

Advanced Text Formulas

Counting specific characters in a cell

Counting the occurrences of a substring in a cell

Removing trailing minus signs

Expressing a number as an ordinal

Determining a column letter for a column number

Extracting a filename from a path specification

Extracting the first word of a string

Extracting the last word of a string

Extracting all but the first word of a string

Extracting first names, middle names, and last names

Removing titles from names

Counting the number of words in a cell

Chapter 6: Working with Dates and Times

How Excel Handles Dates and Times

Understanding date serial numbers

Entering dates

Understanding time serial numbers

Entering times

Formatting dates and times

Problems with dates

Date-Related Functions

Displaying the current date

Displaying any date

Generating a series of dates

Converting a non-date string to a date

Calculating the number of days between two dates

Calculating the number of work days between two dates

Offsetting a date using only work days

Calculating the number of years between two dates

Calculating a person's age

Determining the day of the year

Determining the day of the week

Determining the date of the most recent Sunday

Determining the first day of the week after a date

Determining the nth occurrence of a day of the week in a month

Counting the occurrences of a day of the week

Expressing a date as an ordinal number

Calculating dates of holidays

Determining the last day of a month

Determining whether a year is a leap year

Determining a date's quarter

Converting a year to roman numerals

Time-Related Functions

Displaying the current time

Displaying any time

Summing times that exceed 24 hours

Calculating the difference between two times

Converting from military time

Converting decimal hours, minutes, or seconds to a time

Adding hours, minutes, or seconds to a time

Converting between time zones

Rounding time values

Working with non–time-of-day values

Chapter 7: Counting and Summing Techniques

Counting and Summing Worksheet Cells

Counting or Summing Records in Databases and Pivot Tables

Basic Counting Formulas

Counting the total number of cells

Counting blank cells

Counting nonblank cells

Counting numeric cells

Counting nontext cells

Counting text cells

Counting logical values

Counting error values in a range

Advanced Counting Formulas

Counting cells with the COUNTIF function

Counting cells that meet multiple criteria

Counting the most frequently occurring entry

Counting the occurrences of specific text

Counting the number of unique values

Creating a frequency distribution

Summing Formulas

Summing all cells in a range

Computing a cumulative sum

Summing the “top n” values

Conditional Sums Using a Single Criterion

Summing only negative values

Summing values based on a different range

Summing values based on a text comparison

Summing values based on a date comparison

Conditional Sums Using Multiple Criteria

Using And criteria

Using Or criteria

Using And and Or criteria

Chapter 8: Using Lookup Functions

What Is a Lookup Formula?

Functions Relevant to Lookups

Basic Lookup Formulas

The VLOOKUP function

The HLOOKUP function

The LOOKUP function

Combining the MATCH and INDEX functions

Specialized Lookup Formulas

Looking up an exact value

Looking up a value to the left

Performing a case-sensitive lookup

Choosing among multiple lookup tables

Determining letter grades for test scores

Calculating a grade point average

Performing a two-way lookup

Performing a two-column lookup

Determining the address of a value within a range

Looking up a value by using the closest match

Looking up a value using linear interpolation

Chapter 9: Tables and Worksheet Databases

Tables and Terminology

A worksheet database example

A table example

Uses for worksheet databases and tables

Working with Tables

Creating a table

Changing the look of a table

Navigating and selecting in a table

Adding new rows or columns

Deleting rows or columns

Moving a table

Setting table style options

Removing duplicate rows from a table

Sorting and filtering a table

Working with the Total row

Using formulas within a table

Referencing data in a table

Converting a table to a worksheet database

Using Advanced Filtering

Setting up a criteria range

Applying an advanced filter

Clearing an advanced filter

Specifying Advanced Filter Criteria

Specifying a single criterion

Specifying multiple criteria

Specifying computed criteria

Using Database Functions

Inserting Subtotals

Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Calculations

Unit Conversions

Solving Right Triangles

Area, Surface, Circumference, and Volume Calculations

Calculating the area and perimeter of a square

Calculating the area and perimeter of a rectangle

Calculating the area and perimeter of a circle

Calculating the area of a trapezoid

Calculating the area of a triangle

Calculating the surface and volume of a sphere

Calculating the surface and volume of a cube

Calculating the surface and volume of a cone

Calculating the volume of a cylinder

Calculating the volume of a pyramid

Solving Simultaneous Equations

Rounding Numbers

Basic rounding formulas

Rounding to the nearest multiple

Rounding currency values

Working with fractional dollars

Using the INT and TRUNC functions

Rounding to an even or odd integer

Rounding to n significant digits

Part III: Financial Formulas

Chapter 11: Borrowing and Investing Formulas

Financial Concepts

Time value of money

Cash in and cash out

Matching time periods

Timing of the first payment

The Basic Excel Financial Functions

Calculating present value

Calculating future value

Calculating payments

Calculating rates

Calculating periods

Calculating the Interest and Principal Components

Using the IPMT and PPMT functions

Using the CUMIPMT and CUMPRINC functions

Converting Interest Rates

Methods of quoting interest rates

Conversion formulas

Limitations of Excel's Financial Functions

Deferred start to a series of regular payments

Valuing a series of variable payments

Bond Calculations

Pricing bonds

Calculating yield

Chapter 12: Discounting and Depreciation Formulas

Using the NPV Function

Definition of NPV

NPV function examples

Using the NPV function to calculate accumulated amounts

Using the IRR Function

Rate of return

Geometric growth rates

Checking results

Multiple Rates of IRR and the MIRR Function

Multiple IRRs

Separating flows

Using balances instead of flows

Irregular Cash Flows

Net present value

Internal rate of return

Using the FVSCHEDULE Function

Calculating an annual return

Depreciation Calculations

Chapter 13: Financial Schedules

Creating Financial Schedules

Creating Amortization Schedules

A simple amortization schedule

A dynamic amortization schedule

Using payment and interest tables

Credit card calculations

Summarizing Loan Options Using a Data Table

Creating a one-way data table

Creating a two-way data table

Financial Statements and Ratios

Basic financial statements

Ratio analysis

Creating Indices

Part IV: Array Formulas

Chapter 14: Introducing Arrays

Introducing Array Formulas

A multicell array formula

A single-cell array formula

Creating an array constant

Array constant elements

Understanding the Dimensions of an Array

One-dimensional horizontal arrays

One-dimensional vertical arrays

Two-dimensional arrays

Naming Array Constants

Working with Array Formulas

Entering an array formula

Selecting an array formula range

Editing an array formula

Expanding or contracting a multicell array formula

Using Multicell Array Formulas

Creating an array from values in a range

Creating an array constant from values in a range

Performing operations on an array

Using functions with an array

Transposing an array

Generating an array of consecutive integers

Using Single-Cell Array Formulas

Counting characters in a range

Summing the three smallest values in a range

Counting text cells in a range

Eliminating intermediate formulas

Using an array in lieu of a range reference

Chapter 15: Performing Magic with Array Formulas

Working with Single-Cell Array Formulas

Summing a range that contains errors

Counting the number of error values in a range

Summing the n largest values in a range

Computing an average that excludes zeros

Determining whether a particular value appears in a range

Counting the number of differences in two ranges

Returning the location of the maximum value in a range

Finding the row of a value's nth occurrence in a range

Returning the longest text in a range

Determining whether a range contains valid values

Summing the digits of an integer

Summing rounded values

Summing every nth value in a range

Removing nonnumeric characters from a string

Determining the closest value in a range

Returning the last value in a column

Returning the last value in a row

Ranking data with an array formula

Working with Multicell Array Formulas

Returning only positive values from a range

Returning nonblank cells from a range

Reversing the order of cells in a range

Sorting a range of values dynamically

Returning a list of unique items in a range

Displaying a calendar in a range

Part V: Miscellaneous Formula Techniques

Chapter 16: Intentional Circular References

What Are Circular References?

Correcting an accidental circular reference

Understanding indirect circular references

Intentional Circular References

How Excel Determines Calculation and Iteration Settings

Circular Reference Examples

Generating unique random integers

Solving a recursive equation

Solving simultaneous equations using a circular reference

Animating a chart using iteration

Potential Problems with Intentional Circular References

Chapter 17: Charting Techniques

Understanding the SERIES Formula

Using names in a SERIES formula

Unlinking a chart series from its data range

Creating Links to Cells

Adding a chart title link

Adding axis title links

Adding links to data labels

Adding text links

Adding a linked picture to a chart

Chart Examples

Charting progress toward a goal

Creating a gauge chart

Displaying conditional colors in a column chart

Creating a comparative histogram

Creating a Gantt chart

Creating a box plot

Plotting every nth data point

Plotting the last n data points

Selecting a series from a combo box

Plotting mathematical functions

Plotting a circle

Creating a clock chart

Creating awesome designs

Working with Trendlines

Linear trendlines

Working with nonlinear trendlines

Chapter 18: Pivot Tables

About Pivot Tables

A Pivot Table Example

Data Appropriate for a Pivot Table

Creating a Pivot Table

Specifying the Data

Specifying the location for the pivot table

Laying out the pivot table

Formatting the pivot table

Modifying the pivot table

More Pivot Table Examples

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Grouping Pivot Table Items

A manual grouping example

Viewing grouped data

Automatic grouping examples

Creating a Frequency Distribution

Creating a Calculated Field or Calculated Item

Creating a calculated field

Inserting a calculated item

Filtering Pivot Tables with Slicers

Referencing Cells within a Pivot Table

Another Pivot Table Example

Producing a Report with a Pivot Table

Chapter 19: Conditional Formatting and Data Validation

Conditional Formatting

Specifying conditional formatting

Conditional formats that use graphics

Working with conditional formats

Creating formula-based rules

Data Validation

Specifying validation criteria

Types of validation criteria you can apply

Creating a drop-down list

Using formulas for data validation rules

Creating a dependent list

Chapter 20: Creating Megaformulas

What Is a Megaformula?

Creating a Megaformula: A Simple Example

Megaformula Examples

Using a megaformula to remove middle names

Using a megaformula to return a string's last space character position

Using a megaformula to determine the validity of a credit card number

Generating random names

The Pros and Cons of Megaformulas

Chapter 21: Tools and Methods for Debugging Formulas

Formula Debugging?

Formula Problems and Solutions

Mismatched parentheses

Cells are filled with hash marks

Blank cells are not blank

Extra space characters

Formulas returning an error

Absolute/relative reference problems

Operator precedence problems

Formulas are not calculated

Actual versus displayed values

Floating-point number errors

Phantom link errors

Logical value errors

Circular reference errors

Excel's Auditing Tools

Identifying cells of a particular type

Viewing formulas

Tracing cell relationships

Tracing error values

Fixing circular reference errors

Using background error checking

Using Excel's Formula Evaluator

Part VI: Developing Custom Worksheet Functions

Chapter 22: Introducing VBA

About VBA

Displaying the Developer Tab

About Macro Security

Saving Workbooks That Contain Macros

Introducing the Visual Basic Editor

Activating the VB Editor

The VB Editor components

Using the Project window

Using code windows

Entering VBA code

Saving your project

Chapter 23: Function Procedure Basics

Why Create Custom Functions?

An Introductory VBA Function Example

About Function Procedures

Declaring a function

Choosing a name for your function

Using functions in formulas

Using function arguments

Using the Insert Function Dialog Box

Adding a function description

Specifying a function category

Adding argument descriptions

Testing and Debugging Your Functions

Using the VBA MsgBox statement

Using Debug.Print statements in your code

Calling the function from a Sub procedure

Setting a breakpoint in the function

Creating Add-Ins

Chapter 24: VBA Programming Concepts

An Introductory Example Function Procedure

Using Comments in Your Code

Using Variables, Data Types, and Constants

Defining data types

Declaring variables

Using constants

Using strings

Using dates

Using Assignment Expressions

Using Arrays

Declaring an array

Declaring multidimensional arrays

Using Built-In VBA Functions

Controlling Execution

The If-Then construct

The Select Case construct

Looping blocks of instructions

The On Error statement

Using Ranges

The For Each-Next construct

Referencing a range

Some useful properties of ranges

The Set keyword

The Intersect function

The Union function

The UsedRange property

Chapter 25: VBA Custom Function Examples

Simple Functions

Does a cell contain a formula?

Returning a cell's formula

Is the cell hidden?

Returning a worksheet name

Returning a workbook name

Returning the application's name

Returning Excel's version number

Returning cell formatting information

Determining a Cell's Data Type

A Multifunctional Function

Generating Random Numbers

Generating random numbers that don't change

Selecting a cell at random

Calculating Sales Commissions

A function for a simple commission structure

A function for a more complex commission structure

Text Manipulation Functions

Reversing a string

Scrambling text

Returning an acronym

Does the text match a pattern?

Does a cell contain a particular word

Does a cell contain text?

Extracting the nth Element from a String

Spelling out a number

Counting Functions

Counting pattern-matched cells

Counting sheets in a workbook

Counting words in a range

Counting colors

Date Functions

Calculating the next Monday

Calculating the next day of the week

Which week of the month?

Working with dates before 1900

Returning the Last Nonempty Cell in a Column or Row

The LASTINCOLUMN function

The LASTINROW function

Multisheet Functions

Returning the maximum value across all worksheets

The SHEETOFFSET function

Advanced Function Techniques

Returning an error value

Returning an array from a function

Returning an array of nonduplicated random integers

Randomizing a range

Using optional arguments

Using an indefinite number of arguments

Part VII: Appendixes

Appendix A: Excel Function Reference

Appendix B: Using Custom Number Formats

Automatic number formatting

Formatting numbers by using the Ribbon

Using shortcut keys to format numbers

Using the Format Cells dialog box to format numbers

Parts of a number format string

Custom number format codes

Scaling values

Hiding zeros

Displaying leading zeros

Displaying fractions

Displaying N/A for text

Displaying text in quotes

Repeating a cell entry

Displaying a negative sign on the right

Conditional number formatting

Coloring values

Formatting dates and times

Displaying text with numbers

Displaying a zero with dashes

Using special symbols

Suppressing certain types of entries

Filling a cell with a repeating character

Displaying leading dots

Appendix C: Additional Excel Resources

Support options

Microsoft Knowledge Base

Microsoft Excel home page

Microsoft Office home page

Accessing newsgroups by using a newsreader

Accessing newsgroups by using a Web browser

Searching newsgroups

The Spreadsheet Page

Daily Dose of Excel

Jon Peltier's Excel page

Pearson Software consulting

Contextures

David McRitchie's Excel pages

Pointy Haired Dilbert

Mr. Excel

Appendix D: What's on the CD-ROM?

eBook version of Excel 2010 Formulas

Examples files for Excel 2010 Formulas