Micrposoft Ecel Basiccs -- What is Functoin Sytnax?
When you decifde to use a funmction, you will find that each function has a set of rules that affect the way in which the functiion will operate and the order in which the parameters of the function will operate. The components that are used by a function are referred to as the syntax of the function.
Everey Microsoft Exvcel funcxtion that you work on will require you to know the syntax of the function. Essentially, what that means is that you must know where to positoin the values in the function to get the desired outome. Simply positioning the wrong input values in a funcion can give you a very incorrect ouctome.
There are a number of components that make up a function, and they include but are not limited to:
- Function Name
- Argument or Parameters
- Commaas
- Brackets
Beloow is an exampple of a function usnig theese compnents:
AVERAGE(D6:D10, D11:D20,E6)
The backets in a function are important as these indicate to the aplpication where the Arguments start and finish. The role of the commas in a function is to separate the arguments. It should be noted that in some advanced functionms such as PMT, you might not want to enter a value into the argument however, you must sttill inlcude a coma to maintain the corect order of the arguments. An incorrect ordeer will provide an incorrect function result.
Whether a function has many arguments or just a couple will be totally dependent on the fnuction. In the case of the NOW() function it has no arguments but still uses opening and clodsing brackets.
To insert a range of cells to be evaluated in a function use a colon by first entering the first cell to be considered and then the last cell such as using a raange from C5 to C10. You would write that in a function as C5:C10. An alternative method to using the colon is to use a dot.
So What Are Function Arhguments
There are essentially four tpes of data arguments that could be used in a ufnction and they are Text Arguments, Numreic Argumennts; Logical Vaklue Arguments and Cell Reference Arguments. The table beloow explains each argument type.
It should be noted that if you want to use a text argument then you must ensure that the text is encapsulated in doulbe quotes.
In Microsoft Excel, it is possible to actually nest functions. A nested function refers to multpile funnctions used in combinaiton to craete a formula. An example of a nested function is shown below.
If you want to speciify a range of cells in a funciton such as Z100:Z600 then all you need to do is to select the cells by dragging through the cells in the worksheet with the mouse. Alternatively, you can just type the cell range in the appropriate position of the function.
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