Paste function

Step 3. Now that you have selected an area [5 x p] on the spreadsheet, go to the/v (Paste Function button) and click. 

The advantages of this kind of organization system are clear. Any issues with accuracy of transcription are alleviated. Since peak tables are automatically extracted from the data traces, there is no need for cut-and-paste functions. However, the destination path must be set prior to the transfer, and also the proper integration thresholds must be configured. Data can be part of multiple optimization/screening waves at the same time. In addition, there are... 

Duplicated error messages because cut-and-paste functions have been used carelessly. 

Because Excel provides such a wide range of functions, it is sometime difficult to remember them, or to enter their arguments correctly. You can use Excel s Insert Function to paste a function in a cell, or within a formula that you re typing in the formula bar. To access Paste Function, press the button or choose Function... from the Insert menu to display the Paste Function dialog box (Figure 3-18). 

Excel Tip. When selecting functions in the Paste Function dialog box, as long as the All category is selected, if you type a letter, the first function beginning with that letter is selected from the list of functions. For example, if you type the letter D, the DATE function is selected. You can type several letters in succession to zero in on the function you want. If you type R, the RAND function is selected, but if you type R-O-W (rapidly), you will select the ROW function. If you type a string of letters that doesn t correspond to any function, you ll get a beep. 

Most often you ll know what function you want to enter, in which case it s much faster to type in the function and its arguments instead of using Paste Function. 

A custom function is used in a worksheet formula in exactly the same way as any of Excel s built-in functions. You can enter it in a formula by using Paste Function, or by typing it. The workbook containing the custom function must be open. 

PROVIDING A DESCRIPTION FOR A CUSTOM FUNCTION IN THE PASTE FUNCTION DIALOG BOX... 

When you use Paste Function to enter a function, the function s description appears at the bottom of the dialog box. For a custom function, the default description is "Choose the Help button for Help cn this function and its arguments", but you can provide a custom description for your custom function. There are two ways to do this you can use the Macro dialog box (normally used only for Sub procedures), or you can write and run a simple one-line VBA Sub procedure. Either way, the description becomes part of Excel and does not need to be entered each time you start Excel. 

For Excel s built-in functions, the Formula Palette (Step 2 of Paste Function) provides help information about each argument as you begin to enter it. There s no way to provide similar information about arguments in the Formula Palette for custom functions. But since the same description text appears in the Step 1 and the Step 2 dialog boxes, you can provide information about the arguments in the description. Unfortunately the limit for Description is 255 characters. You can provide line breaks in the text by using Chr(lO) or Chr(13), but the Formula Palette can only display two lines of text. 

Initially, your custom function will be located in the User Defined category in the Paste Function dialog box. You can specify the category in which the function will be located, by typing and running a Sub procedure similar to the one shown in Figure 17-7. The category values are listed in Appendix D. 

An Add-In custom function is listed in the Paste Function list box without the workbook name preceding the name of the function, making it virtually indistinguishable from Excel s built-in functions. 

F3 w Display the Paste Function dialog box Display the Paste Function dialog box... 

Now, click on cell B8, and then click on the Insert (Paste) Function icon shown in the margin so that the Insert Function window appears, and then click on Statistical. The window appears as follows. 

For mathematical functions use the button labeled fx in the standard toolbar in Excel 95 it is called the Function Wizard in Excel 97 the Paste Function. Both will give you two side-by-side columns, one for Function Category, the other for Function Name. Pick a category, then in that category the name of the function you want to use. (Since there are so many functions listed under, say, Math Trig, you most likely will need to use the vertical scroll bar to find your function.)... 

To use Paste Function, follow the procedure described in Chapter 3. Select the worksheet cell or the point in a worksheet formula where you want to enter the function (e.g., cell B2 in Figure 13-10). Choose Function... from the Insert... 

Unfortunately, if you re entering the custom function in a different workbook than the one that contains the custom function, the function name must be entered as an external reference, e.g. PERSONAL.XLSIFtoC. This can make typing the function rather cumbersome, and means that you ll probably enter the function by using Excel s Paste Function. But, see "Creating Add-In Function Macros" in Chapter 17 for a solution to the problem. 

Excel has a large number of matheinatical and statistical functions that can be used for calculations in lieu of writing your own formulas. Let s try the statistical functions to automatically calculate the mean. Highlight an empty cell and click fx on the tool bar. The Paste Function window appears. Select Statistical in the Function category. The following window appears ... 

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