Learn how to insert an Excel function into your workbook.
Excel comes equipped with a large number of pre-defined formulas. These are known as functions.
There is a great amount of functions available in Excel. Each created for a specific purpose. There are functions specific to Maths, Science, Finance, and Engineering to name a few.
I often get asked if I know them all. Um…no…definitely not. You’ll see when you work through this post just how many there are. There are over 400! Each created to make our lives a whole lot easier.
So, instead of us having to learn whopper calculations, Excel partially creates them for us. All we do is locate the function we want to use and insert the argument part of the formula.
Each function has a unique name and a set of arguments that are used to perform the calculation.
Insert a function into your workbook
The Insert function tool steps you through creating functions using the Formula palette. Use the Insert function tool until you become familiar familiar with the structure of a function. Once you are familiar you can type the formula yourself straight into a cell or in the formula bar.
1. Select the cell that will hold the calculation.
2. To open the Insert Function dialog box:
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- Click the Insert Function button on the Formula Bar.
- From the Formulas tab, in the Function Library group click the Insert Function button.
- From the Home tab, in the Editing group click AutoSum and select More Functions from the list.
The Insert Function dialog box will appear.
3. To find a suitable function type a description of the calculation you want to perform in the Search for a function box and then click Go, or you can select a specific category from the select a category list.
Hint: to view all functions select the All category. This the best way to find a function until you become familiar with the functions included in each category. Functions that have been used recently are displayed in the Most Recently Used category.
4. Function names will be displayed in alphabetical order in the Select a function list box. Scroll to locate a function name or click into the list box and then press the first letter of the function to jump quickly to it in the list.
5. Select a function name. A description of the function is displayed in the lower-left corner of the dialog box.
6. Click OK.
Note: the following example is based on the SUMIF function.
The Formula palette opens. The name of the function is displayed in the upper-left corner. A description of the function is displayed in the lower part of the palette. Argument boxes will be displayed. As you place the insertion point into an argument box a description of the type of argument required is displayed at the very bottom of the palette.
Tip: to re-position the Formula palette, click and drag in the title bar.
In the previous example the function is calculating the total of a range of cells based on a set criteria. The result will appear in the lower left corner of the palette.
7. Click OK to finish your formula.
To edit a function simply change it in the Formula bar, of if you would like to see the Formula palette again, click on the cell that holds the function and then click the Insert Function button.
Tip: once you become familiar with a function you can easily locate it on the Formulas tab, in the Function library. You may need to search each of the ‘books’ until you find the function. Clicking the function takes you directly to the Arguments box.
Sharyn is an expert trainer. She became the first certified Microsoft® MOUS Authorised Instructor in New Zealand.
She is endorsed by Microsoft® as a qualified Microsoft® Office Specialist and has more than 20 years of experience in the training industry, developing and delivering technology training workshops. Her approach to taking the “techie-speak” out of technology training has placed her as a preferred supplier to many of New Zealand’s leading organisations.
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