what does (=+) do?

[CherylS]

I have inherited a file where all the forumuls and references to other cells start with =+ I am wondering what the + means.

Here is an example:
=+C11*(1+$C$5)

another example is:
=+input!C12 (input is the worksheet name it is referencing)

 

[bobhc]

Good day Cherylis and welcome to the forum please read this link as it will help you in using the forum

http://chandoo.org/forum/forums/new-users-please-start-here.14/

I presume you are referring to a formula that starts with "=+" instead just "=", for example:

=+A1+B1

It has no meaning. The "+" after "=" is superfluous.

It is a carryover from Lotus 1-2-3, where formulas can be entered as +123+456 instead of =123+456. Excel permits that form as well. It changes the first to the latter.

In any case, there is no reason to use the +A1+B1 or =+A1+B1 convention.


.

 

[CherylS]

Thank you, if I understand this correctly I can safely remove the + from the forumulas without causing problems.

 

[bobhc]

If you are trying to tidy up the work sheet then you could do this, use find if you have many and change them one at a time if you did a find and replace all, you could remove the + from with in a formula and that would be a disaster, good in a movie but not so good in a spreadsheet..... .......But I know you will do a backup before you do this....just incase.


.

 

[Hui]

You can safely do a Search/Replace for =+ and replace with =

The =+ formulas are actually 0.0043% slower than the = only formula

 

[CherylS]

Thank you that worked beautifully

 

[Hui]

Excel doesn't allow two consecutive equals in a formula and so it is a neat trick