Excel should let me use formulas that refer to other cells w/ form

[Chenopod]

Currently, formulas in MS Excel only let you call on cells that have constant
values. This has made it extremely difficult for me to manipulate
spreadsheets effectively in my company. I'm not sure if it is possible to
perform these tasks in Visual Basic Editor, but I strongly suggest that a
future version of Excel allow formulas to refer to other cells with formulas
and funtions (whose values could change). It doesn't seem too hard to
accomplish because whenever a formula refers to other cells with formulas,
following the line of cell references always ends with constants. In other
words, if you were to combine all formulas of this nature into one huge
formula, it would in fact refer only to constants.

----------------
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suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...heet.functions

[Duke Carey]

Are you stating that you cannot use a formula or function to refer to cell A1
if cell A1 has a formula? If so, your statement couldn't be any further off
base.

If I've misread your comment, please clarify what are you trying to express.

"Chenopod" wrote:

> Currently, formulas in MS Excel only let you call on cells that have constant
> values. This has made it extremely difficult for me to manipulate
> spreadsheets effectively in my company. I'm not sure if it is possible to
> perform these tasks in Visual Basic Editor, but I strongly suggest that a
> future version of Excel allow formulas to refer to other cells with formulas
> and funtions (whose values could change). It doesn't seem too hard to
> accomplish because whenever a formula refers to other cells with formulas,
> following the line of cell references always ends with constants. In other
> words, if you were to combine all formulas of this nature into one huge
> formula, it would in fact refer only to constants.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...heet.functions

[RagDyeR]

You are sooooo wrong, that It must be that I'm not understanding what you're
writing.

Are you saying that a formula *cannot* use the return of a cell that
contains another formula?

You're not saying that ... are you?
--

Regards,

RD
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit !
--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Chenopod" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Currently, formulas in MS Excel only let you call on cells that have
constant
values. This has made it extremely difficult for me to manipulate
spreadsheets effectively in my company. I'm not sure if it is possible to
perform these tasks in Visual Basic Editor, but I strongly suggest that a
future version of Excel allow formulas to refer to other cells with formulas
and funtions (whose values could change). It doesn't seem too hard to
accomplish because whenever a formula refers to other cells with formulas,
following the line of cell references always ends with constants. In other
words, if you were to combine all formulas of this nature into one huge
formula, it would in fact refer only to constants.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...heet.functions

[azmi athas]

i absolutely agree with this. infact i found this site after trying to find a solution to the same issue. havent found any solution so far, and appriciate if some one could help on this.
thanks

[JE McGimpsey]

What issue are you having? This works fine for me:


A1: 1
A2: 2
A3: =A1 + A2 ====> 3
A4: =A3 * 4 ====> 12


So the formula in A4 refers to another cell (A3) with a formula.

What trouble are you having?

In article <[email protected]>,
azmi athas <[email protected]>
wrote:

> i absolutely agree with this. infact i found this site after trying to
> find a solution to the same issue. havent found any solution so far,
> and appriciate if some one could help on this.

[azmi]

appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
function eliminates this issue.

A1=0
B1=0
C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!

SOLUTION
C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)

thanks.

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> What issue are you having? This works fine for me:
>
>
> A1: 1
> A2: 2
> A3: =A1 + A2 ====> 3
> A4: =A3 * 4 ====> 12
>
>
> So the formula in A4 refers to another cell (A3) with a formula.
>
> What trouble are you having?
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> azmi athas <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > i absolutely agree with this. infact i found this site after trying to
> > find a solution to the same issue. havent found any solution so far,
> > and appriciate if some one could help on this.
>

[JE McGimpsey]

Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
error.

Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
better to trap only "expected" errors:

C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)





In article <[email protected]>,
"azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:

> appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> function eliminates this issue.
>
> A1=0
> B1=0
> C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
>
> SOLUTION
> C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>

[azmi]

your explanation worked out perfectly, and sorted my problem without further
complications. thanks to you. but before i leave, just out of curiosity may i
ask, is CHENOPOD (the one who bought the similar issue first) has the same
problem as mine, or is he refering to something else?

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

> Multiplication and addition happen before the data is entered, just as
> division does. The difference is that multiplication by zero and
> addition of zero are defined, whereas division by zero is not, hence the
> error.
>
> Note that ISERROR() will mask any other errors you have. It's usually
> better to trap only "expected" errors:
>
> C1: =IF(B1=0,"",A1/B1)
>
>
>
>
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "azmi" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > appriciate your prompt reply. my issue was, the formula displays (#DIV/0!)
> > BEFORE entering the data. i.e., the formula is entered first, and the
> > relevent data is to be entered at a later stage.as far as i know this only
> > happens when you devide a value by zero or when the formula has to devide
> > zero by zero. this does not happen when you multiply or add. hence this cell
> > which gives (#DIV/0!) will continue to be the same to all formulas which
> > refers this particula cell(s). howerver i managed to find that "ISERROR"
> > function eliminates this issue.
> >
> > A1=0
> > B1=0
> > C1=A1/B1=#DIV/0!
> >
> > SOLUTION
> > C1=IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),'''',A1/B1)
>