Chapter 9: Introducing Formulas and Functions
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argument, you can enter the address manually or click inside the argument box and
then select (that is, point to) the cell or range in the sheet.- After you specify all of the function arguments, click OK.
Yet another way to insert a function while you’re entering a formula is to use the Function List to the left of the
Formula bar. When you’re entering or editing a formula, the space typically occupied by the Name box displays a list
of the functions that you’ve used most recently (if any). After you select a function from this list, Excel displays the
Function Arguments dialog box.Function entry tips
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when you use the Insert Function dialog box
to enter functions:■ (^) You can use the Insert Function dialog box to insert a function into an existing
formula. Just edit the formula and move the insertion point to the location at
which you want to insert the function. Then open the Insert Function dialog box
(using any of the methods described earlier) and select the function.
■ (^) You can also use the Function Arguments dialog box to modify the arguments for
a function in an existing formula. Click the function in the Formula bar and then
click the Insert Function button (the fx button, to the left of the Formula bar).
■ (^) If you change your mind about entering a function, click the Cancel button.
■ (^) The number of boxes that you see in the Function Arguments dialog box depends
on the number of arguments used in the function you selected. If a function uses
no arguments, you won’t see any boxes. If the function uses a variable number of
arguments (such as the AVERAGE function), Excel adds a new box every time you
enter an optional argument. Note that required arguments appear in bold, while
optional arguments are not bold.
■ (^) As you provide arguments in the Function Arguments dialog box, the value of each
argument is displayed to the right of each box.
■ (^) A few functions, such as INDEX, have more than one form. If you choose such a
function, Excel displays another dialog box that lets you choose which form you
want to use.
■ (^) As you become familiar with the functions, you can bypass the Insert Function
dialog box and type the function name directly. Excel prompts you with argument
names as you enter the function.
Editing Formulas
After you enter a formula, you can (of course) edit it. You may need to edit a formula if you
make some changes to your worksheet and then have to adjust the formula to accommodate