Part II: Working with Formulas and Functions
A comma is the list separator character for the U.S. version of Excel. Some other language versions may use a semi-
colon. The list separator is a Windows setting that can be adjusted in the Windows Control Panel (the Region dialog
box).
More about functions
All told, Excel includes more than 450 built-in functions. And if that’s not enough, you can
download or purchase additional specialized functions from third-party suppliers—and
even create your own custom functions (by using VBA) if you’re so inclined.
Some users feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of functions, but you’ll probably
find that you use only a dozen or so on a regular basis. And as you’ll see, the Excel Insert
Function dialog box (described later in this chapter) makes it easy to locate and insert a
function, even if it’s not one that you use frequently.
You’ll find many examples of Excel’s built-in functions throughout Part II, “Working with Formulas and
Functions.” Chapter 43, “Creating Custom Worksheet Functions,” covers the basics of creating custom
functions with VBA.
Entering Formulas into Your Worksheets
Every formula must begin with an equal sign to inform Excel that the cell contains a for-
mula rather than text. Excel provides two ways to enter a formula into a cell: manually or
by pointing to cell references. The following sections discuss each method in detail.
Excel provides additional assistance when you create formulas by displaying a drop-down
list that contains function names and range names. The items displayed in the list are
determined by what you’ve already typed. For example, if you’re entering a formula and
then type the letters SU, you’ll see the drop-down list shown in Figure 9.2. If you type an
additional letter, the list is shortened to show only the matching functions. To have Excel
autocomplete an entry in that list, use the navigation keys to highlight the entry and then
press Tab. Notice that highlighting a function in the list also displays a brief description of
the function. See the next sidebar, “Using Formula AutoComplete,” for an example of how
this feature works.
