Test spreadsheet, David A. Wheeler; 2005-02-21, to examine formula semantics

Num1:

Num2:

Label:

hello

A label. Default formatting for strings is left-justified.

Labelnum:

This is '11

A string:

This is ="1" & "1". Again, by default left-justified.

A percent:

A date:

01/02/1901

False:

12/30/1899

=FALSE(). Default formatting is centered.

True:

12/31/1899

=TRUE()

One:

Excel 2000 doesn't have a "logical" format.

Empty:

ERROR.TYPE 1

Err:521

#NULL!

ERROR.TYPE 2

Err:503

#DIV/0!

ERROR.TYPE 3

#N/A

#VALUE!

ERROR.TYPE 4

#REF!

ERROR.TYPE 5

#NAME?

ERROR.TYPE 6

Err:503

#NUM!

ERROR.TYPE 7

#N/A

NA as formula:

#N/A

NA() as a formula

Three

Nine

True:

TRUE

Cell address:

A cell reference:

Matrix1:

Matrix2:

MMULT(M1,M2):

Result should be:

Formula (Excel format):

Results:

Excel 2000 (Win)

Discussion:

=B2+B3

=B2+B3+B4

Adding the label "hello" changes nothing.

=B2+B3+B5

The "+" forces a conversion of text to a number

=B2+B3+B6

Same thing: "+" forces string conversion

=SUM(B2:B6)

But "SUM()" skips non-numerics

=COUNT(B2:B12)

Excel 2000 only counts numbers; FALSE & TRUE don't count

=COUNT(B9:B11)

In Excel 2000, Logicals aren't counted by COUNT. UGH.

=SUM(B9:B10)

12/31/99

In Excel 2000, logicals aren't converted to numbers. UGH.

=1/0

Err:503

Division by zero.

=B6+B2*B3

Multiplication before addition.

=B2 & B3 + B2

Concat and "+" have the same precedence

=B2+B3&B2

Concat and "+" have the same precedence

=SUM(B2:B3 B1:B2)

Intersection

=SUM(B2, 77)

SUM can take references and constants

=SUM(B1:B3,B2:B4)

=SUM((B1:B3,B2:B4))

Err:508

Set of cells - note that dupes are NOT removed

=AREAS((B1:B3, B2:B4))

Err:508

AREAS doesn't merge the ranges, just reports

=NOT(2)

FALSE

Nonzero is TRUE when converting to logical

=1+TRUE()

TRUE is 1 when converting to number

=ISLOGICAL(B10)

FALSE

TRUE

Logical different than numbers

=ISLOGICAL(B11)

FALSE

=ISREF("A1")

FALSE

=ISREF(A1)

TRUE

=ROMAN(1999,0)

MCMXCIX

Long, traditional form

=ROMAN(1999,1)

MLMVLIV

=ROMAN(1999,2)

MXMIX

=ROMAN(1999,3)

MVMIV

=ROMAN(1999,4)

MIM

Shortest format

=ROMAN(1999,TRUE())

MLMVLIV

MCMXCIX

TRUE is the same as 0 (!)

=ROMAN(1999,FALSE())

MCMXCIX

MIM

FALSE is the same as 4 (!)

=ISTEXT(B6)

TRUE

Formulas producing text are text

=ISTEXT(B4)

TRUE

Labels are text, too.

=ISNUMBER(B9)

TRUE

FALSE

True/false aren't numbers.

=ISERROR(B19)

TRUE

NA is an error type.

=B2+B13

Err:521

Adding a number and error produce the error

=B13+B14

Err:521

Whatever error is seen first, wins

=B14+B13

Err:503

=B14+B15

Err:503

=B15+B14

#N/A

=B19+B14

#N/A

=B14+B19

Err:503

=TYPE(B12)

Err:504

Empty cells are type 1 (numeric)

=VALUE("1/3/1904")

1464

Excel 2000 - 1900 based.

=AND(TRUE())

TRUE

=AND(FALSE())

FALSE

=2^10

1024

=2^-4

0.06

=-2^-3

-0.13

=(-2)^-3

-0.13

=-2^-4

0.06

=(-2)^-4

0.06

2^9999999999

Err:503

Too big

=ROWS(B2:C4)

=Sheet1!B2

Ooo - [Sheet1!.B2]

=[testss.xls]Sheet1!B3

External file

='C:\[testssold.xls]Sheet1'!B3

Sheet1

External file, with directory

=AVERAGE(B21:B23)

4.33

=AVERAGEA(B21:B23)

3.33

=FORECAST(5,{1,4},{3,10})

#NAME?

1.86

Arrays.

=MDETERM({2,3;4,5})

#NAME?

-2

=SQRT(-4)

Err:502

Err:503

square roots of negative numbers not permitted

=SUMIF(B21:B23,"<5",B21:B23)

SUM ignores logical

=IF(B11<>2,"Hooray","Whups")

Hooray

Not equal is "<>" in Excel

=TYPE(B2)

=TYPE(B4)

=TYPE(B6)

=TYPE(B7)

=TYPE(B8)

=TYPE(B9)

=TYPE(B13)

=TYPE(Matrix1)

#VALUE!

=TYPE(B33:D35)

#VALUE!

=TYPE({1,3;4,6})

#NAME?

=MDETERM({2,3;4,B2})

Illegal to mix nonconstants in Excel 2000

=IF(1,"good","bad")

good

=INDIRECT(B24)

When reference is returned, the value is computed

=ISREF(INDIRECT(B24))

TRUE

INDIRECT returns a REFERENCE type

=MMULT(Matrix1,Matrix2)

First element picked.

=4*5%

0.2

The % divides the number by 100

(1/0) & "hi"

Err:503

#DIV/0! - concat returns error if one is an error

={2,3}

#NAME?

={2,3;4,5}

#NAME?

=+B6

The "+" does NOT change type

=+B5

=+B4

hello

Note that strings pass through unchanged

=ISTEXT(B6)

TRUE

=-B3

-2

=-2^4

Leading Minus binds MORE tightly than ^

=SUM(3,,4)

Err:511

Empty parameters okay

=SUM(B3,B12)

Sum across empty param okay

=$B$3

Absolute reference

=1+2*3^4/5-6

27.4

Precedence works

=(1+2)*3^4/(5-6)

-243

Parens work

=1&2+3&5

155

Concat and "+" work together

=-5/-10

0.5

The link could not be updated.

File:

file:///C:/dwheeler/misc/testssold.xls

Sheet:

Sheet1