The "BEST" formula function in Excel:

[asingh]

Hi,

Wanted to start a thread to get views on Native Excel funtions....want to know...what people think..

1. The Best Excel Formula Function..? -- and why..?
2. Most used Formula Function..?
3. Formula Function you could not live without...?

Examples would be : vlookup, sumif, countif...etc....No UDF's please.....!

I know the answers would be debatable/and vary as per user..but lets see....????

regards,

asingh

[Bob Phillips]

Best.

IMO has to be somthing simple like SUMIF/COUNTIF, because it is efficient, it has a conditional facility, the conditional facility is quite flexible (not enough, but we never get Nirvana), and with the use of helper cells, it can cater for myriads of situations.

Most Used.

Must be IF or SUM mustn't it, just by the very nature of their simplicity, immediacy basic quality?

Can't Live Without.

I think that would be VLOOKUP in my case, it is very convenient to hold data in a table format, and lookup various columns as required.

[rory]

It depends on so many things, like what line of work you are in and what version of Excel you have. For me:
1. Best: I'd agree with SUMIF for 2003 and prior; SUMIFS or IFERROR for 2007.
2. Most used has to be SUM, or + by people converted from other spreadsheet programs.
3. Couldn't live without: SUMPRODUCT, INDEX and MATCH.

[L@ja]

it is really depend what we would like to do...
i use a office2k pro and i could'nt live w/o my func:

function workweek(mdate as date) as interger 
    workweek=format(mdate,"ww")
end function