"{" before a formula that works?

**reganbaha** · 06-29-2011, 02:48 PM

Hi,

I was modifying a spreadsheet created by a colleague that has since left the workplace so I can't check within them.

But one of the formula's has the { symbol before the = sign at the start of the formula and again at the end of the formula. It appears to work just like a normal formula. At least at first glance it does.

But when I try to do {=formula} it just shows the text and not as a formula.

What does the { mean and is it doing anything special?

Thanks

**tigeravatar** · 06-29-2011, 02:56 PM

reganbaha,

A formula that is enclosed in { and } means that it is an array formula, and as such was entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter. Here's some more information on array formulas:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...001087290.aspx
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ArrayFormulas.aspx

Hope that helps,
~tigeravatar

**arthurbr** · 06-29-2011, 03:00 PM

It means that the formula is an array formula.
It should always be entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter, which automatically adds the symbols
Any time you change the formula you will need to do this. Adding those symbols manually will not help

More info at http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ArrayFormulas.aspx

**daddylonglegs** · 06-29-2011, 03:03 PM

There are often "non-array" alternatives. E.g. this simple "array formula" needs CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER

={SUM(IF(A1:A10>5,B1:B10))}

but you can use SUMIF like this to replicate

=SUMIF(A1:A10,">5",B1:B10)