PC World - USA (2020-04)

130 PCWorld APRIL 2020

HERE’S HOW EXCEL FUNCTIONS AND TOOLS

Basically, that means if a condition is true,

then do one thing, else/otherwise do

something else. For example, if the puppy is

a Labrador, then buy a blue collar,

otherwise/else, buy a red collar.

The syntax (the way the commands are

organized in the formula) of the IF statement

is: =IF(logic_test, value_if true, value_if_

false). IF statements are used in all

programming languages and, although the

syntax may vary slightly, this function

provides the same results.

1. Enter the following column headers:
   Cookie Boxes Sold; 3rd Prize =More than
   500 Sold, Less than 1000; 2nd Prize =More
   than 1000 Sold, Less than 1500; 1st Prize
   =More than 1500 Sold, Less than 2000;
   Grand Prize =More than 2000 Sold


2. Enter some numbers into column
   A4:A13. Mix it up so you get data in all of the

Sold columns.

3. Enter this formula in B4:
   =IF($A4>500, $A4, 0).
   NOTE: There is a $ sign before the
   column letter ‘A’ in the above formula. To
   enter it, place your cursor on the first ‘A’ in
   the formula, then use the function key F4 to
   cycle through the Absolute and Relative
   References. Stop when the $ sign precedes
   the ‘A’ (for each A in the formula). This tells
   Excel NOT to change the column letter, but
   only change the row numbers when this
   formula is copied. If you put a dollar sign
   before both the column letter and the row
   number, neither would change.


4. Copy the formula in B4 to C4, D4, and
   E4, then edit as follows: in C4,
   =IF($A4>1000, $A4, 0); inD4,
   =IF($A4>1500, $A4, 0); and E4,
   =IF($A4>2000, $A4, 0). Then copy

Use UPPER & LOWER & PROPER case to alter case

of characters.

Use the REPT function to repeat any character on

the keyboard, as well as symbols.