However, both Excel and Calc have functions that the other lacks. If the values in the cells change, then the result of the function will be automatically updated.įor compatibility, functions and their arguments in Calc have almost identical names to their counterparts in Microsoft Excel. In Calc, you can enter values from other cells by typing in their name or range, or - unlike in some spreadsheets - by selecting cells with the mouse. More often, however, an argument is a value that you enter manually, or one already entered in a cell or range of cells on the spreadsheet. In some cases, the arguments have pre-defined choices, and you may need to refer to the online help or functions listed by category to understand them. Your task is to enter the arguments needed to run the function. These arguments may or may not have their own name. PRODUCT() does the same for multiplying that SUM() does for adding.Įach function has a number of arguments used in the calculations. This operator multiplies two numbers together for a result. SUM() on the other hand adds groups of contiguous ranges of numbers together. This operator will add two numbers together for a result. By tradition, functions are entered entirely in upper case letters, although Calc will read them correctly if they are in lower or mixed case, too.Ī few basic functions are somewhat similar to operators. For instance, the FV function gives the future value of an investment, while BIN2HEX converts a binary number to a hexadecimal number. Typically, the name of a function is an abbreviated description of what the function does. See a list of all functions in functions listed by category. Alternatively, it may be as complex as calculating the standard deviation of a sample, or a hyperbolic tangent of a number. A function may be as simple as adding two numbers together, or finding the average of a list of numbers. Many of these functions are for use with numbers, but many others are used with dates and times, or even text. Calc includes over 350 functions to help you analyze and reference data.