Lotus Formula Syntax? 2

[RosewoodCrocket]

Forgive me as I've not used Lotus in a long time, and I do not have it in front of me currently...

If one enters a formula into Lotus, say:

1 + 2

Or

@SUM(A1:C3)

Does the system automatically add a leading "=" sign, or Lotus operates without the "=" sign?

Also is it legal to even enter:

1 + 2

as a formula, or must I lead with, say, a "+" sign, as in:

+ 1 + 2

Thanks in advance for everyone's help...

-- Mike

 

[crazybird]

Every formula must begin with one of these:

+
-
@ function
(
or any number

You don't commence with the = sign.

The expression @SUM(Al:C3) should be @SUM(A1..C3)

 

[RosewoodCrocket]

Thank's CrazyBird, I really appreciate it...

Just to clarify, what if I did put

1 + 2

in a cell? Would it be intepreted as text and not as an equation evaluating to 3?

And based on what you wrote above, would writing

(1 + 2)

in a cell evaluate to 3?

Thanks again, and I'm sorry for such noobie questions...

 

[DaleWatson123321]

By default, all cells are formatted as GENERAL, and this will result in the the following...

When the FIRST character entered (into a cell) is a NUMBER or character used in a formula - i.e. the "(" character, then Lotus 123 treats the ENTIRE entry as a NUMBER or as a FORMULA.

Your example "(1 + 2)" will be treated as a FORMULA.

If a user does NOT want the entry to be treated as a NUMBER or FORMULA - but as TEXT - then there are two options:

A) use a "label prefix" as the first character. There are 3 choices: 1) ' - aligns entry on LEFT, 2) ^ - aligns entry in CENTER, 3) " - aligns entry on RIGHT.

B) Format the cell as "TEXT"

Hope this helps. I would have left this for crazybird to answer, but he hasn't logged in since the 20th.

Regards, Dale Watson

 

[RosewoodCrocket]

Dale,

I really appreciate that extremly clear description.

One last question: so the formula:

= 1 + 2

Would be evaluated to '3' in both Lotus and Excel? I am basing this on the assumption that the "=" sign would also qualify as " character used in a formula" as you put it?

Thanks a ton Dale, and CrazyBird...
-- Mike

 

[DaleWatson123321]

In Excel: =1+2 will evaluate to 3

In 123: 1+2 will evaluate to 3 (do NOT use the "=")

The "=" character is an "equal" sign in both Excel and 123, but as shown above, in Excel it's REQUIRED as the first character, whereas in 123 it's NOT required.

The equals (=) character is also often used in formulas - for example especially in long formulas with compound conditions and various functions - in both 123 and Excel. And it's often used together with the > (greater than) or < (less than) characters.

As a programmer, I expect I'm been more elaborate than I need to, but I'm doing so for others who might want to use this and don't have a programming background or are new to spreadsheets.

Also, as previously mentioned by crazybird, you can begin a formula with a function. In 123, functions begin with the @ character, whereas with Excel it's the = character.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Dale Watson

 

[RosewoodCrocket]

Hi Dale,

I am absolulely grateful for your detailed responses. I am a programmer too; however at the moment I do not have Lotus in front of me (and have not used it since about 1993!) and need to have a proper evaluator written...

My only question left, then, regards this quote:

> "In 123: 1+2 will evaluate to 3 (do NOT use the '=')"

Does this mean that a leading "=" in Lotus 123 would result in an invalid formula because it would, essentially, be a compound expression without a Left-Hand-Side?

If so, would an error result, or would the entry be effectively treated as a text entry, literally as the string "=1+2"?

I really apreciate it a ton Dale, I think this is my last issue... Sorry to persue this question to death...

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[DaleWatson123321]

Mike,

Where I said... (do NOT use the "=") ...This is simply because you don't have to use it. In fact, if you do use it before a number or before another math character like the "(" character - e.g. (1+2), the 123 will simply IGNORE the "=" character - i.e. it will NOT be entered into the cell.

So, to summarize, typing/entering "=1+2" will result in "1+2" being entered as a formula into the cell, resulting in a value of 3.

If you were to enter a label-prefix as the first character (either ' ^ or " ) - e.g. "1+2 (entering the double quote character, followed by 1+2) will result in 1+2 being entered as TEXT on the Right-Side of the cell. This is because the " character instructs 123 to treat whatever follows as TEXT, and to align it on the right-side of the cell.

Hope this provides the clarification you're seeking.

Regards, Dale Watson

 

[RosewoodCrocket]

Dale,

That was absolutely beautiful.

Thank you ,
Mike