Last week in the Chandoo.org Forums a user asked a question
“How do I convert a Roman Numeral to a Number eg: MMMCCCLVII to 3357”
User Xlstime presented the solution of:
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
Today we are going to look at how and why that simple formula works
As always at Formula Forensics you can follow along using a sample file: Download Sample File
Solution
Excel has a Roman function wherein =Roman(3357, 0) will return MMMCCCLVII
I knew there was no such reverse Roman function prior to Excel 2013 and so my initial thought was to look at a VBA Solution.
See notes on the Arabic Excel function at the end of the post.
However Xlstime presented =MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
How does this work?
lets start by pulling it apart from the inside out
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
The Indirect Function simply takes its inputs and converts them to a Range, in this case 1:3999.
We will study why 3999 later
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
The next function working out is Row()
Excel will convert the function ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”)) to an array of Row Numbers
={1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11; …. 3995;3996;3997;3998;3999}
You can see this if you goto cell D7 in the Sample File, press F2 and then F9
I limited the numbers to 300 as Excel cannot display more than 8,192 digits
Stepping out one more function:
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
The Roman() function converts its inputs into Roman Numbers
eg: Roman(58) will return LVIII
But as we are feeding it an array of numbers from 1 to 3999 Excel handles all these and converts them to an Array of Roman Numbers
Goto D9 in the sample file =ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:300”))) press F2 and then F9
Excel returns an array of roman numbers
={“I”;”II”;”III”;”IV”;”V”;”VI”;”VII”;”VIII”; … “CCXCVI”;”CCXCVII”;”CCXCVIII”;”CCXCIX”;”CCC”}
We have limited the example to 300 as Excel cannot display more than 8,192 characters when processing a Function using F9.
Stepping out one more function
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
The Excel Index() function is taking the Array of Roman Numerals and Converting it into a single Column array
This isn’t technically needed but it simplifies the solution
If you goto cell D11 in the sample file =INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0) press F2 and then F9
Excel returns an array of roman numbers
={“I”;”II”;”III”;”IV”;”V”;”VI”;”VII”;”VIII”; … “CCXCVI”;”CCXCVII”;”CCXCVIII”;”CCXCIX”;”CCC”}
This is exactly the same as the previous output from the Roman() function above, Except that it is now a Single Vertical Array. This is important for the next function.
Stepping out one more function
=MATCH(A2,INDEX(ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0),0)
We can see here that the Array of Roman Numerals is now being fed into a Match() function.
Match uses the Syntax =Match(Lookup value, Lookup Array, Match Type)
Match returns the position of the Lookup value within the array
So in our example
The Lookup value is A2 or our Roman Numeral MMMCCCLVII
The Lookup Array is an array of Roman Numerals from 1 to 3999
={“I”;”II”;”III”;”IV”;”V”;”VI”;”VII”;”VIII”; … “MMMCMXCV”; “MMMCMXCVI”; “MMMCMXCVII”; “MMMCMXCVIII”; “MMMCMXCIX”}
and the Match Type is 0 or an exact Match
So the Match function will lookup the value MMMCCCLVII in the array and find it in position number 3357, which happens to correspond to the Number of the Roman Numeral and Return 3357 as the result.
Why are we limited to 3999 numbers.
The Excel Roman() function is limited to numbers up to 3999
Why 3999?
Because in Roman Numerals there is no Letter for 5,000 and 4,000 would be shown as M before the Letter for 5,000.
Why did we need the Index() function?
If you goto D17 in the sample file you will see the formula:
=MATCH(A2,ROMAN(ROW(INDIRECT(“1:3999”))),0)
It is the same formula as above but without the Index() function
You will see that it is returning a #VALUE! error
If you edit the formula with F2 and then press F9 to process the function you will see it now shows 3357
What s happening here?
Pressing F9 is the same as Array Entering the Function
so if you edit the function pressing F2 and now Array Enter the function by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Enter, excel now returns 3357
The Index() function puts a wrapper around the array for processing by the Match() function and so Array Entering is avoided.
Most array formulas that require Ctrl+Shift+Enter can be rewritten incorporating an INDEX wrapper and will not require the Ctrl+Shift+Enter confirmation.
The Excel Arabic Function
In 2013, Microsoft introduced the Arabic function to Excel
To use simply use =Arabic(A2) or =Arabic(“MMMCCCLVII”)
You can read about the Syntax of the function in the Excel Help.
Download
You can download a copy of the above file and follow along, Download Sample File.
A Challenge
Can you solve the problem another way ?
Post your solutions in the comments below.
Other Posts in this Series
The Formula Forensics Series contains a wealth of useful solutions and information specifically about how Normal Formula and specifically Array Formula work.
You can learn more about how to pull Excel Formulas apart in the following posts: http://chandoo.org/wp/formula-forensics-homepage/
If you have a formula and you want to understand how it works contact Hui and it may be featured in future posts.
14 Responses to “How to Add your Macros to QAT or Excel toolbars?”
We have only just got excel 2007 so this is helping me navigate my way through the differences cheers.
For Macro's i always add a Command Button, rename it something obvious, change the colour of it and finally add the following to its View Code section.
Application.Run "MAcro1"
This way anyone opening the file knows what to do if i ever win the lottery and dont make it in 🙂
Hi,
Good article. But I have this problem.
1) Customized QAT with a macro. Macro name = MacroX
2) Runs OK from original location (e.g. C:\TestLoaction1\TestFile.xls)
3) Copy past file to new location (e.g. C:\TestLoaction2\TestFile.xls)
Menu button now fails:
Cannot run the macro "C:\TestLoaction1\TestFile.xls'!MacroX' The macro may not be available in this workbook...
Of course the code is there, and macros are enabled.
Could get it to work after deleting and recreating macro custom buttons. So have to re-assign macro to QAT button every time I move the file?
If I put a form button on he worksheet and assign the macro to that, it's location independent.
Any ideas?
Thanks
@Ron
What you have said is correct
Macros within a worksheet are stored within the worksheet and hence follow it.
Macros referenced by a button in the QAT or elsewhere are locaed in a file and if that file is moved the linkages don't follow.
The easiest way around this is to store all your macros in a location that doesn't move and is in fact reloaded everytime that Excel starts and that is called the Personal.xlsx/b file.
These are refered to several time at Chandoo.org or have a read of
http://www.rondebruin.nl/personal.htm
or
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/deploy-your-excel-macros-from-a-central-file-HA001087296.aspx
In Excel 2003 and prior versions, a button added to the Toolbar maintained a DYNAMIC link to the file (e.g. Personal.xlsb) holding the assigned macro, such that if the file was relocated for any reason (by using Excel's native Save As command rather than just moving it via Windows Explorer), the link between the button and the file was updated.
I expected the same to occur with Excel 2007+, but alas, Microsoft in their infinite wisdom have removed another feature useful to advanced users (just as they did by removing the ability to design your own buttons)!!
So having just done some reorganisation of my files, I now have to remove and recreate every friggin macro button on my QAT (I have lots) - what a pain in the proverbial!!
Hi Hui,
Thanks for the help, that's really useful.
1) The macros I'm adding are for one specific Excel application, so I really wanted the macros to follow the file
2) I didn't want to have to pass other files around too and have users installing those - either Personal.xlsx/b or as an Add-In.
3) I realise now that the QAT additions will appear for other Excel workbooks in which I don't want the macros available.
So, it looks like I need to keep it local, by using a button on the worksheet. Unless you can suggest any way of adding to menus just for a specific workbook.
Thanks again for your help. Great site, so I'll be signing up for the emails.
Ron
I know I'm a little late jumping on this post, but wondering if anyone knows how to add a UDF to the QAT? I've saved my UDF in my personal workbook, but it does not show up in my list when I choose Macros when customizing my QAT. Suggestions? Thanks!!
@Cheryl: UDFs cannot be accessed like Macros. You can use them from other macros or from worksheet cells as formulas...
@David: If you save your macros file and then install it as an add-in then it will be always available for you.
The instructions work great when you are creating a new file, and it is still open. I find that I can't access macros after I've saved a file as an xlam and closed it. When I reopen the xlam, either by browsing to it, or by having it set to open as an addin using Excel Options, the macros are no longer available in the macros list when I go to edit the QAT. Any way around that?
[...] Add this macro as a button to Quick Access Toolbar [...]
I need to create a button that will run a macro. Once you click the button it needs to open up a browser asking you to select a report/file. Once you select the file, it will run the macro on the selected file and then save it as a new report with a name and the current date. I created the macro to sort/modify the report but I do not know how to do what I mentioned above. I hope this makes sense.
I'm having trouble adding a macro to the QAT. I've done everything up to step 5 but my macro isn't showing up. What am I doing wrong?
[...] Add Macros to Quick Access Toolbar (works in Excel 2003 & above) [...]
Hi,
Thank you for the explanation. Very useful for a recent switcher from office 2003 to office 2010.
My follow-up question is: in Excel (or ppt) 2010, can you customize the macro button that you put in the QAT?
In office 2003, once you chose the custom button for your Macro, you could then edit pixel by pixel the said button.
For instance, I've created 2 Macros in PPT that are converting all my slides to either English or French language, so I'd like one button to show EN and the other FR... that would be more meaningful that any of the possible "custom" office 2010 buttons
I read all the post and one important aspect to the QAT was never mentioned. That is, you have a macro driven worksheet that you want to share with other. You have customized the QAT with two icons to run the macros (VBA programs in reality). However, when the others receive the workbook, the icons are no where to be found. It's my understanding those "customized buttons" have been saved to an outside file, Excel.qat. QUESTION: Could one simply attach that file to your email, along with the worksheet, and tell the recipients to copy that file to correct location on their computer - C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office|\
Would the customize macro buttons then appear in the worksheet and, more importantly, work? Thanks for your thoughtfulness and thanks for well written instructions Chandoo!
MortW