Function Wizard

In Excel there is a help tool for functions called the Function Wizard.

There are two ways to get the function wizard. If you look at the Standard Toolbar, the function wizard icon looks like the icon on the right.

The other way to get to the function wizard is to go to the Menu INSERT -- down to FUNCTION.

Either way you get there, at this point Excel will list all of the functions available. Upon choosing the function, Excel will prompt you for the information it needs to complete the function. Mini descriptions are available for each of the cells. It is often necessary for you to understand the functions in order to be able to figure out these descriptions.

Yeah, I know it would have been nice to know this earlier, but it is important for you to understand how the functions work before you start using the Function Wizard. It is faster to type the basic function in from the keyboard as opposed to going through the steps of this tool.
Well, that is all of the functions we are going to cover.On to the next phase.

Formulas in Excel.#8

The PMT function returns the periodic (in this case monthly) payment for an annuity (in this case a loan).

This is the PMT function that was used for the car purchase in the first example. There are a few things that we must know in order for this function to work. To calculate the loan we must know a combination of the following

(rate) interest rate per period

(NPER) number of payments until repaid

(PV) present value of the loan (amount we are borrowing)

(FV) future value of the money (for saving or investing)

(type) enter 0 or 1 to indicate when payments are due.

Formulas in Excel.#7

The next function we will discuss is IF. The IF function will check the logical condition of a statement and return one value if true and a different value if false.

The syntax is =IF (condition, value-if-true, value-if-false)

value returned may be either a number or text

if value returned is text, it must be in quotes

Formulas in Excel.#6

The next function we will discuss is CountA. This will return the number of entries (actually counts each cell that contains number data OR text data) in the selected range of cells.

Blank entries are not Counted.

Text entries ARE Counted.

Formulas in Excel.#5

The next function we will discuss is Count. This will return the number of entries (actually counts each cell that contains number data) in the selected range of cells.

Blank entries are not counted.

Text entries are NOT counted.

Formulas in Excel.#4

The next function we will discuss is Min (which stands for minimum). This will return the smallest (Min) value in the selected range of cells.

Blank entries are not included in the calculations of the Min Function.

Text entries are not included in the calculations of the Min Function.

Formulas in Excel.#3

The next function we will discuss is Max (which stand for Maximum). This will return the largest (max) value in the selected range of cells.

Blank entries are not included in the calculations of the Max Function.

Text entries are not included in the calculations of the Max Function.

Formulas in Excel.#2

There are many functions built into many spreadsheets. One of the first ones that we are going to discuss is the Average function. The average function finds the average of the specified data. (Simplifies adding all of the indicated cells together and dividing by the total number of cells.)

The syntax is as follows. =Average (first value, second value, etc.)Text fields and blank entries are not included in the calculations of the Average Function.

Formulas in Excel.

Probably the most popular function in any spreadsheet is the SUM function. The Sum function takes all of the values in each of the specified cells and totals their values.

The syntax is: =SUM(first value, second value, etc) In the first and second spots you can enter any of the following (constant, cell, range of cells).
Blank cells will return a value of zero to be added to the total.
Text cells can not be added to a number and will produce an error.

Tip#3 **Hot Tip**

Here are some basic short-cuts to move in a perticular sheet

• Cursors - To move to a cell towards the left, right, up or down.
• Enter - To accept the text, the number or the formula that was entered in the cell.
• Tab - Moves the cursor a cell to the cell on the right of the active cell.
• Shift + Tab - Moves the cursor a cell to the left of the active cell.
• End + cursor OrCtrl + cursor - To move at the end of a series of filled cells, with some content, or a series of empty cells.
• PageUp and PageDn - To move a screen up or down.
• Alt + PageUp and Alt + PageDn - To move of one screen to the left or to the right.
• Ctrl + PageUp and Ctrl + PageDn - To move to the previous or following worksheet.
• Ctrl + Home - To return to the upper left corner of the current worksheet.
• Ctrl + End - To move in the last cell containing text, a number or a formula.
• F5 or Ctrl + T - To move directly to any cell of the file.

Tip#2

How can you get todays date and time in a cell ?

Ans.To get the Current date and Time in a cell insert a Formula "=now()" "This will pickup the System's date and Time."

Tip#1

How can you quickly copy the same data in the cell Below ?

Ans. If you want the same data in the cell which is in the cell just above it, You need not to apply any kind of formula there, Simply Press "Ctrl+D" and you will get it.

Want to learn Excel ?

• First Rule to learn Excel is that you should know that "What do you Want".
• You should have a Licenced copy of MS Excel installed on your Computer.
• You should have Data to work upon.You should have access to the Internet.
• You should Regularly Visit this Blog. :-)