Formulas and Code Tags

[ChemistB]

What's the general preference with moderators and guru's concerning whether Excel formulas should have code tags?

Do you like to see formulas in code tags always?
if over a certain length?
never?

I've heard both so am curious.

[shg]

I put formulas in code tags only if I deliberately show the formula split over two or more lines to highlight the regularity of recurring similar expressions.

Otherwise, I think it reinforces the confusion some people have between code and formulas.

[DonkeyOte]

I sit on the other side of the fence to shg and always post formulae in CODE tags.

First reason:

There is an (as yet unresolved) issue with the board software that results in spurious spaces being added within lengthy functions.
This can lead to errors when the formulae are copied/pasted by OP.
The CODE tags remove that issue.

Second reason:

From an aesthetics perspective I confess I prefer the clear divide between narrative and functional content.

I think the overall preference of the Board is that CODE tags be used only fo Code.
However, until such time as the above bug is rectified I'm not sure it's a valid standpoint.

[snb]

maybe the PHP code-tags are a better alternative to formulae (it looks very similar to Excel' help when editing a formula.)

=SUMPRODUCT((A1:M20=50)*(A1:M20<>"")*A1:m20)  

[Marcol]

The board also removes what it considers extra spaces.
It was a problem here
http://www.excelforum.com/excel-gene...g-of-text.html

One fix in this example was to use code tags around the formula.

I can see shgs' point

Otherwise, I think it reinforces the confusion some people have between code and formulas

but in my opinion tags fix more problems than they cause.

Is it a big deal to have dedicated formula tags

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as an option?

[ChemistB]

I like the PHP tag. What's that stand for?

[DonkeyOte]

PHP is a scripting language: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP

These pages are coded in php and utilise a MySQL backend... it's a classic "open source" combo.

[NBVC]

Simon's TheCodeCage forum does have separate

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tags.. so I am sure it is possible... but to get it implemented here is another story....

[shg]

I think the overall preference of the Board is that CODE tags be used only for Code.

I wasn't aware of that.

I also use code tags for posting tabular data, in conjunction with my CopyRng (free to all) add-in:

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Oz, where they really don't like code tags for anything but code, has an "ss" tag for this purpose.

... spurious spaces being added within lengthy functions.

That only happens if you have (I think) 50 characters without a space. I'm fond of white space in formulas for readability, so it's not a problem for me.

[romperstomper]

The PHP tags would be perfect if they could be altered to not show 'PHP code' above them!