Evaluating a formula

[schielrn]

I just thought I'd put it out there to see what people use, since I have seen it debated for evaluating formula results.

 

[Joe4]

Other: Microsoft Word!

I copy the formula over to Word, and break it down it outline form, almost as if I was writing idented VBA code (its about the only thing Word is good for!). Makes it easy to see if I am missing parentheses and such (like for those nested IF statements).

That's just the way I think! It works for me.

 

[SydneyGeek]

I tend to use Formula Auditing -- pure habit, but will check out the F9 trick too.
And I agree with Joe; with a megaformula, sometimes the only way to see what you did is break out the text into Word or Notepad, and lay out each step.

Denis

 

[PaddyD]

Just FYI you can somewhat break down the formula directly in the formula bar using alt + enter to separate the components.

 

[Greg Truby]

I like the step in functionality of the Evaluate Formula tool, though if it's hard enough that I cannot just write it and would need to break it down, then I probably split it into several cells at the beginning and got each component to work and then assembled it into an überformula. For array formulae, definitely the Evaluate Formula tool.

 

[RichardS]

I'm like Mr Truby. For a complex formula with nested functions, I'll break it into it's various components to ensure the sum of all the components gives me the reult I'm looking for, then bundle it all together into one formula.

 

[Stormseed]

Same here. Breaking up the whole formula into smaller chunks and executing each chunk seperately and I use one of the software called "Editplus" for Arrays and large complex functions.

 

[Jon von der Heyden]

I like the auditing tool and the step in functionaility, but it doesn't always break down every component.

For me I also occassionally use the function wizard, particularly where the formula involves many worksheet functions. The formula wizard will show the result of each worksheet function and the arguments of each. I find that very useful...

 

[schielrn]

For me I also occassionally use the function wizard, particularly where the formula involves many worksheet functions. The formula wizard will show the result of each worksheet function and the arguments of each. I find that very useful...

I didn't think of this either, as I have done this before as well.

 

[erik.van.geit]

Using same methods as already explained:
Breaking down into cells
Putting it on several lines with alt+enter
Sometimes, when tired or in a playful mood: trial and error and a lot of chance
Often just looking over Aladins shoulder

kind regards,
Erik