Undocumented, Unloved and Unused Excel Functions
Following on from Chandoo’s MLookup function published on 1st April 2011, I thought it might be worth documenting a few undocumented, no-longer documented and rarely used Excel functions.
Although some of the functions below aren’t documented they still work as of Excel 2010.
Users should be cautious with their use going forward as Microsoft may withdraw them from future versions of Excel.
But if you see them appear in older Excel models at least you’ll be the full bottle.
This post will look at the following functions:
- Datedif
- Roundup
- RoundDown
- Evaluate
- Convert
- Roman
- FactDouble
- Bahttext
Worked examples of all these functions are presented in the Example File which is compatible with all versions of Excel.
Datedif
The DATEDIF function computes the difference between two dates in a variety of different intervals, such number of years, months, or days.
This function is available in all versions of Excel since at least version 5/95, but is documented in the help file only for Excel 2000.
By the way, do not confuse the DATEDIF worksheet function with the VBA DateDiff function.
Use:
=DATEDIF(Start Date, End Date, Interval)
Where:
Start Date must be less than the End Date.
Interval is the interval type to return.
Interval value must be one of the following:
| Interval | Meaning | Description |
| m | Months | Complete calendar months between the dates. |
| d | Days | Number of days between the dates. |
| y | Years | Complete calendar years between the dates. |
| ym | Months Excluding Years | Complete calendar months between the dates as if they were of the same year. |
| yd | Days Excluding Years | Complete calendar days between the dates as if they were of the same year. |
| md | Days Excluding Years And Months | Complete calendar days between the dates as if they were of the same month and same year. |
If you are including the Interval string directly within the formula, you must enclose it in double quotes:
=DATEDIF(Date1,Date2,”m”)
Examples:
| Start Date | 13/01/1963 | ||
| End Date | 12/05/2011 | ||
| Years | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”Y”) | 48 | |
| Months | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”M”) | 579 | |
| Days | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”D”) | 17651 | |
| Months Exc. Years | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”ym”) | 3 | |
| Days Exc. Years | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”yd”) | 119 | |
| Days Exc. Years & Months | =DATEDIF($B$5,$C$5,”mD”) | 29 | |
| Start Date > End Date | =DATEDIF($D$5,$D$4,”Y”) | #NUM! | |
Use of the Datedif function on Chandoo.org:
Datedif has been used a number of times at Chandoo.org
http://chandoo.org/forums/topic/how-to-calculate-age-from-their-dob
http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/09/22/elapsed-time-excel/
http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/08/26/date-time-tips-ms-excel/
Disclaimer:
Although the Datedif function above isn’t documented it still works as of Excel 2010. Users should be cautious with their use going forward as Microsoft may withdraw support for them in future Excel versions.
ROUNDUP() and ROUNDDOWN()
The Roundup and Rounddown functions rounds a number up or down, away from zero and have pretty much been replaced by the Round function.
Use:
The Roundup function rounds a number up, away from zero.
=ROUNDUP(number, num_digits)
The Rounddown function rounds a number down, towards zero.
=ROUNDDOWN(number, num_digits)
Roundup() behaves similarly to the Round() function, except that it always rounds a number up based on the following rules:
- If num_digits is greater than 0, then number is rounded up to the specified number of decimal places.
- If num_digits is 0 or omitted, then number is rounded up to the nearest integer.
- If num_digits is less than 0, then number is rounded up to the left of the decimal point.
Examples:
ROUNDUP(4.1,0) equals 5
ROUNDUP(106.9,0) equals 107
ROUNDUP(3.14159, 3) equals 3.142
ROUNDUP(-3.14159, 1) equals -3.2
ROUNDUP(31415.926, -2) equals 31500
Rounddown() behaves similarly to the Round() function, except that it always rounds a number down based on the following rules:
- If num_digits is greater than 0, then number is rounded down to the specified number of decimal places.
- If num_digits is 0 or omitted, then number is rounded down to the nearest integer.
- If num_digits is less than 0, then number is rounded down to the left of the decimal point.
Examples:
ROUNDDOWN(4.1, 0) equals 4
ROUNDDOWN(106.9,0) equals 106
ROUNDDOWN(3.14159, 3) equals 3.141
ROUNDDOWN(-3.14159, 1) equals -3.1
ROUNDDOWN(31415.92654, -2) equals 31400
Use on the Roundup and Rounddown functions on Chandoo.org:
The Roundup and Rounddown functions have been used several times at Chandoo.org
Roundup
http://chandoo.org/wp/2010/04/29/quarterly-totals-from-monthly-data/
http://chandoo.org/wp/2010/04/30/quarterly-totals-multi-year-data/
Rounddown
http://chandoo.org/wp/2010/04/30/quarterly-totals-multi-year-data/
http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/07/06/excel-formulas-round-sort/
Evaluate
Evaluate is an Excel ver 4.0 macro function which is still supported and functional in Excel 2010.
The Evaluate function allows for the evaluation of a text equation as an algebraic equation.
The evaluate function cannot be used as a spreadsheet function but can be used in Named Ranges.
It is probably best described by example; Evaluate 1, from the Example File.
Example:
Say you have a polynomial equation in a cell as Text A1: ‘=X2 + 5*Y – Z
Setup 3 named ranges, X, Y , Z with values X=10, Y=5 and Z=3
You can use Evaluate in a a Named Range eg: Result =Evaluate(SheetName!$A$1)
And then on a worksheet =Result, which will return the answer 122 = 102 + 5*5 – 3
Evaluate can be used to allow graphing of equations without use of worksheet functions or even worksheet ranges, an example of each is shown in the examples file as Evaluate 2 and Evaluate 3 .
Evaluate 2: Uses a Range as the X Values and a Named Range using the Evaluate function as the calculated Y Values
Evaluate 3: Uses Named Ranges as the X Values and as the calculated Y Values based on an Evaluate function
Use of the Evaluate function on Chandoo.org:
Not Used
Convert
Converts a number from one measurement system to another.
For example, CONVERT can translate a table of distances in Kilometres to a table of distances in Miles.
Convert includes 49 units spread amongst the following 10 categories
| Category | No Units |
| Weights & Mass, | 5 |
| Time | 5 |
| Force | 3 |
| Power | 2 |
| Temperature | 3 |
| Distance | 8 |
| Pressure | 3 |
| Energy | 9 |
| Magnetism | 2 |
| Liquid Measures | 9 |
Use:
=Convert(number, From Unit, To Unit)
A list of all the Conversion Units and Conversion Prefixes is included on the Conversion Factors tab of the Examples File.
Examples:
| Example | Result | Description (Result) |
| =CONVERT(5, “lbm”, “kg”) | 2.27 | Converts a 5 pound mass to kilograms (2.267) |
| =CONVERT(80, “F”, “C”) | 6.67 | Converts 80 degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius (26.6) |
| =CONVERT(1, “ft”, “kg”) | #N/A | Data types are not the same so an error is returned (#N/A) |
| ‘=CONVERT(CONVERT(100,”ft”,”m”),”ft”,”m”) | 9.29 | Converts 100 square feet into square meters (9.290304). |
A list of all the Conversion Units and Conversion Prefixes is included on the Conversion Factors tab of the Examples File.
Use of the Convert function on Chandoo.org
http://chandoo.org/forums/topic/convert-function
Roman
The Roman function converts a number to Roman format.
Use:
=ROMAN(number, form)
=ROMAN(45 ) = XLV
Form is a number specifying the type of roman numeral you want. The roman numeral style ranges from Classic to Simplified, becoming more concise as the value of form increases.
| Form | Type |
| 0 or omitted | Classic. |
| 1 | More concise. See example below. |
| 2 | More concise. See example below. |
| 3 | More concise. See example below. |
| 4 | Simplified. |
| TRUE | Classic. |
| FALSE | Simplified. |
Example:
| Example | Formula | Description (Result) | |
| =ROMAN(2011) | MMXI | Converts 2011 to Roman (MMXI) | |
| =ROMAN(499,0) | Classic or Omited | CDXCIX | Converts 499 to Roman (CDXCIX) |
| =ROMAN(499, True) | Classic | CDXCIX | Converts 499 to Roman (CDXCIX) |
| =ROMAN(499,1) | More Concise | LDVLIV | Converts 499 to Roman (LDVLIV) |
| =ROMAN(499,2) | More Concise | XDIX | Converts 499 to Roman (XDIX) |
| =ROMAN(499,3) | More Concise | VDIV | Converts 499 to Roman (VDIV) |
| =ROMAN(499,4) | Simplified | ID | Converts 499 to Roman (ID) |
| =ROMAN(499, False) | Simplified | ID | Converts 499 to Roman (ID) |
Use of the Roman function on Chandoo.org:
Nil
Factdouble
Factdouble returns the double factorial of a number and is expressed in mathematics as n!!
Double factorials are used in probability theory and other higher levels of mathematics and is really just a way to simplify an otherwise complex expression
If the number is Even Factdouble = n(n-2)(n-4)…(4)(2)
If the number is Odd Factdouble = n(n-2)(n-4)…(3)(1)
So it is simpler to write 10!! than 10x8x6x4x2
Use:
=Factdouble( number )
Example:
| Example | Result | Description (Result) |
| =Factdouble(8) | 384 | Factdouble of 8 = 8x6x4x2 = 384 |
| =Factdouble(9) | 945 | Factdouble of 9 = 9x7x5x3x1 = 945 |
Use of the Factdouble function on Chandoo.org
Not used
Bahttext
Converts a number to Thai Text represention of the number
Use:
=Battext( Number)
Example:
=Bahttext(250) , Returns 
Use of the Bahttext function on Chandoo.org:
Not used
Examples
An example file with worked examples from all the above functions is available from the following link; Example File
The file is compatible with all Excel versions.
What Functions Have You Discovered?
What Functions Have You Stumbled Onto?
Let us know in the comments below:
40 Responses to “Lost Excel Functions”
Of all the functions, I think the BAHTTEXT function is the biggest "Why is this here???"
It's use would be limited to a very, very small demographic. A better function would have been a generic translate function where you pick the language (even if it was only the top 5 or something...)
Lost by whose definition? Some people use these functions(me). There are alot of words in English dictionary that aren't used.
This is a great post, especially because I love Lost. Thanks!
See the following blog post on Excel Semi-Pro which identifies the flaws with the DATEDIF function.
http://excelsemipro.com/2011/01/how-many-years-months-and-days-has-it-been/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ExcelSemi-pro+%28Excel+Semi-Pro%29
Nice Post Hui. It is amazing what is in the program that you have never heard of. I typed in =d and looked at the functions. "Delta" popped out although it is documented, why would you ever use it vs. just comparing with an equal sign (=1=1).
I use Datedif at times. What will be nice is if alternatives to these "Lost" functions can also be posted with examples. That'll be a good reading and also deter users from using functions "soon to be made obsolete"
I don't think the intersect AND logic is very well documented:
=B1:B3 A2:C2 One intersection
=SUM(D9:F9 E8:F10) Two intersections
=SUM(D9:F9 E8:E10 F8:F10) No intersection --> #NULL! Not seen very often
There might be a OR logic lurking as well
//Ola
Interesting post! 😉
I found out that only "evaluate" isn't available in my excel 2007.
Great post, thanks Hui! 🙂
@Fred
Evaluate is a Excel 4 Macro Function and not a spreadsheet function
It can only be used in Named Ranges and VBA, not as a spreadsheet function.
@OlaSa
I forgot all about the 2 Operators you mention.
Daniel at Excel Hero has done a story about them at: http://www.excelhero.com/blog/2010/06/which-function-to-use---part-1.html
@Steve T
Yes, Delta and Gestep are odd functions and easily replaced with alternative logic.
These 2 functions may have uses in handling ranges and not just single cells.
I read somewhere not too long ago (at Daily Dose, possible) that BAHTTEXT is "rumoured" to be a self-interested joke by the MS Excel programmers: although this function would be at least equally useful for other currencies, they did the baht first because they're extremely partial to Thai takeaways and wanted to speed up the turnaround time
...and why isn't there a reverse ROMAN?
there is, just replace Roman with Arabic
=ROMAN(2023) is MMXXIII
=ARABIC("mmxxiii") is 2023
Hi Hui,
I think you have mis-defined the Result range name because you have made the name relative. The proper formula should have been
=EVALUATE($A$1).
NB: I use the technique in this post: http://www.jkp-ads.com/articles/chartanequation00.asp
Found this posting with some User Defined Functions and VBA for reversing Roman Numerals:
http://www.excelbanter.com/showthread.php?t=141566
Hi Hui - Thanks for the post - a little off the excel topic, but wondering what does "you"ll be the full bottle" mean? Have never heard this expression before. 🙂
@Tra
“you'll be the full bottle” is Aussie slang for "You'll know all about it"
@Jan Karel Pieterse
Thanx for the input
.
=Evaluate(A1) is ok as long as A1 is the active cell
It can create problems if it isn't.
.
Ideally it should be entered as =EVALUATE(SheetName!$A$1)
I have updated the post accordingly
Further info on DELTA:
Have 1 cell formatted to number (a1), and the other formatted to text (a2).
Type the number 1 into both cells
The formula:
=A1=A2
returns FALSE (number does not equal text)
formula:
=DELTA(A1,A2)
returns 1 (the equivalent of true). I see limited places where this would be useful, but wanted to point out that they do function differently.
In Excel2010
I just tried Delta with
2 2 =Delta(A2, B2) =1
'2 '2 =Delta(A3, B3) =1
'2 2 =Delta(A4, B4) =1
C C =Delta(A5, B5) =#Value!
Lines 3 & 4 should also give errors but don't ?
The formatting of the cells shouldn't affect the results as that is just for display
Great post.
Interesting that the roman function returns a #value! if you go any higher than 3999
@Chandoo Not trying to be a shameless self promoter (I just want to spread the Excel awesomeness) but I've found an obscure way to create a mouse-over effect in Excel using the Hyperlink() formula and some VBA. I've used this technique in some of my dashboards at work, and as an example of how it's useful, you could use it in the Grammy Bump chart to simply let users rollover a year instead of clicking on it. I talk about it in the latest post of my rarely updated blog which is linked on my name in this post. Or, here's the long and short of it:
.
=HYPERLINK(MyFunction(), "Mouseover me!")
.
Then in some module:
Public Function MyFunction()
Msgbox "hi!"
End Function
.
To test: place your mouse over the underlined portion of the cell. To make the entire-cell a mouse over target (not just the underlined portion), word wrap it. Also, if you want the function to change parts of your spreadsheet, you'll need to wrap the Hyperlink formula in an IFERROR (you'll see what I mean when you try it). Or you can read about it by clicking on my name, either way, make sure to have fun!
@Hui
Seems like DELTA has the advantage in being able to recognize "text as numbers". And yes, thanks for clarifying my statement about formatting. I should have been clearer in the fact that I just wanted to compare a text string with a number...in which case, maybe I should have just written:
=DELTA(1,"1") 'Results in 1
@Jordan... wow, that is a beautiful trick. I have not yet tested it, but seems like it has lots of potential. Let me play with the idea and may be write a follow-up article on this.
Btw, you are welcome to share information and links. That is the whole point of commenting. 🙂
Alright, i am no engineer, but a simple formula can also do what Delta does without having a whole function for it. That is like creating a function called Add (Syntax =Add(a1,a2) that results in the addition of A1+A2
This will do what delta does on numbers and textNumbers and its not rocket science or structural engineering 🙂 🙂
=VALUE(A1)=VALUE(A2) will also yield true/false
And if you need the result as a number =(VALUE(A3)=VALUE(A4))*1
@SteveT
You know, they invented this function you described in Excel. It is called SUM, not ADD 🙂
There are also functions PRODUCT, SUMPRODUCT and others. All of them simple definied, and it doesn't mean they aren't to be in Excel.
Of the under-used functions, I think Evaluate is probably the most useful.
The short UDF presented here:
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/evaluate-function/
allows Excel to evaluate functions entered as text, without the need to create named ranges.
An application using this function can be downloaded here:
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/section-properties-of-defined-shapes-spreadsheet/
thanks for this. I hope to use "convert" more frequently henceforth
@ruvelk and @Chandoo
I checked out the link you provided (ruvelk) and the explanation given of the intervals 'MD' 'YM' AND 'YD' provided above (Chandoo) and the information is not quite correct.
'MD' returns the number of days since the last completed month.
'YM' returns the number of months since the last completed year.
'YD' returns the number of days since the last completed year.
As far as I can see there is no flaw in the function just perhaps a misunderstanding of what is does.
eg
using the 'MD' interval
02/28/2010 to 01/11/2011
Last completed month = 12/28/2010
Number of days between 12/28/2010 and 01/11/2011 = 14
Using 03/01/2010 to 01/11/2011
Last completed month = 01/01/2011
Number of days between 01/01/2011 and 01/11/2011 = 10
Cheers
Andrew
@Andrew
I think we are talking about the same thing in different ways.
From the post:
"md" Days Excluding Years And Months Complete calendar days between the dates as if they were of the same month and same year.
so using your dates
28/2/10 to 11/1/11 will count 29, 30 and 31 as if they are in January and then the first 11 days in January = 14 days.
That is, it is counting the dates as if they are both in January, same year, and so there is 14 days between them.
Hi,
Can any one tell how to enter data into range of cells through a single cell without the help of VBA.
Regards
Chandra
@ Chandra
Can you be more specific?
@Chandra
If you type this into A1:
={1,2,3;4,5,6;7,8,9}
then select A1:C3 and use Control+Shift+Enter
You will get a 3x3 array in A1:C3
The formula in each cell in that range will be:
{={1,2,3;4,5,6;7,8,9}}
Commas separate columns. Semicolons separate rows,
This is of limited use since the cells in this array cannot be individually edited.
There is at least 1 Excel 4 macro that provides functionality that cannot (AFAIK) be replicated in later versions of Excel. GET.CHART.ITEM is used to get the exact coordinates of chart elements, including the coordinates of individual points in a line graph (or edge and corner cordinates of bars, or columns for those types of graphs). For example:
sngXPos = ExecuteExcel4Macro("get.chart.item(1,1, ""S2P" & lX & """)")
returns the X position of each point in series 2 of a line graph as you iterate from 1 To ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(2).Points.Count
Documentation file for Excel4 macros available at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/128185
Excel 2010 has incorporated most (but not all?) of this functionality as described here:
http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-excel/archive/2010/02/16/migrating-excel-4-macros-to-vba.aspx
Unfortunately, I don’t see Evaluate working in Excel 2010.
I have Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010.
When I try it myself, or download the example file, I have #NAME?
result in the cell containing “=Result” formula.
The Evaluate function does work in Excel 2010 and 2013.
It is called from a VBA function, so maybe the problem is that macros are not enabled.
[…] To know how many months are left between TODAY() and date in A1, use = DATEDIF(TODAY(), A1, “m”). Related: How to use DATEDIF function. […]
[…] To know how many months are left between TODAY() and date in A1, use = DATEDIF(TODAY(), A1, “m”). Related: How to use DATEDIF function. […]
I once ran across an undocumented version of GETPIVOTDATA. The syntax was something like "GETPIVOTDATA($A$3, ...", where $A$# would reference the pivot table then you could concatenate text fields to select the specific data you were after. I found this useful as I could use an IF("condition", "place field text", ""). This way if the "condition" was met it would field data requested otherwise nothing was included. This worked well if nested condition were not available. Hope this is clear. I can't find the alternate syntax for GETPIVOTDATA anywhere. Does someone have it?
@Marty
Yes, GetPivotData is a usefull function but I believe it has been documented since 2007
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/GETPIVOTDATA-function-8c083b99-a922-4ca0-af5e-3af55960761f