brackets { } in excel formulas

I am working with an excel workbook that contains a large number of formulas.
Some of the formulas contain an additional set of curly brackets { } around
the entire equation. If I double click on the formula to see what cells the
formula is drawing from and then hit enter when I am done, the cell where the
formula is contained shows an error. What function do the additional
brackets serve?

Example of formula:
={POWER(10,(SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logPM)) - SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logEAF))) /
SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,1)))}

The curly brackets denote an array formula - one that typically works on an
array of values rather than on a single value. You get an error because the
formula must be committed with the Ctrl+Shift+Enter key combination.


"Jessica" wrote:

> I am working with an excel workbook that contains a large number of formulas.
> Some of the formulas contain an additional set of curly brackets { } around
> the entire equation. If I double click on the formula to see what cells the
> formula is drawing from and then hit enter when I am done, the cell where the
> formula is contained shows an error. What function do the additional
> brackets serve?
>
> Example of formula:
> ={POWER(10,(SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logPM)) - SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logEAF))) /
> SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,1)))}

One other thing - don't try to enter the curly brackets yourself. Excel will
do this when you commit w/Cntrl+Shift+Enter

"Jessica" wrote:

> I am working with an excel workbook that contains a large number of formulas.
> Some of the formulas contain an additional set of curly brackets { } around
> the entire equation. If I double click on the formula to see what cells the
> formula is drawing from and then hit enter when I am done, the cell where the
> formula is contained shows an error. What function do the additional
> brackets serve?
>
> Example of formula:
> ={POWER(10,(SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logPM)) - SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,logEAF))) /
> SUM(IF(CalPgms=0,0,1)))}