[b]Using an asterisk as "IF" function[/b]

[teo]

I have seen an asterisk used in the same way as an IF function. I am trying to simplify imbedded functions that include several IF / AND / OR functions.

Question: Will Example 1 always yield the same result as Example 2? Is this 'shortcut' going to provide any unwelcome surprises?

Example 1: =MIN(-SUM(F74:F76),F71)*(F71>0)

Example 2: =IF(F71>0,(MIN(-SUM(F74:F76),F71)),0)

Many thanks.

 

[erik.van.geit]

teo,

WELCOME to the Board ! ! !!!

the sheet here may be the proof of what you think to be the truth
in such cases it seems good to me to try out with very simple examples

kind regards,
Erik

Map1.xls
	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	-40	0		1	4	4
2	0	0		0	0	4
3	1	1		0	2	3
Blad2

 

[Todd Bardoni]

The asterisk does not replace an IF but there are different ways to write a formula and to get the same result. For example, instead of nesting a bunch of IF statements together, most of the time you can use VLOOKUP. As an experiment type:-

=TRUE in a cell.

Now type:-
=1*TRUE

Now type:-
=0+TRUE

Now type:-
=--(TRUE)

Now, with all of these examples, replace TRUE with FALSE. Come back with any questions you may have.