The easiest way to enter a function into a formula is to use the drop-down list that Excel displays while you type a formula. In order to use this method, however, you must know at least the first character of the function’s name.

Another way to insert a function is to use the Function Library group on the Formulas tab (see Figure 15-4). This is especially useful if you can’t remember which function you need. Click the function category (Financial, Logical, Text, etc.) and you’ll get a list of the functions in that category.

Click the function you want, and Excel displays its Function Arguments dialog box. This is where you enter the function’s arguments. In addition, you can click the Help On This Function link to learn more about the selected function.

FIGURE 15-4
You can insert a function by selecting it from one of the function categories.

Yet another way to insert a function into a formula is to use Excel’s Insert Function dialog box (see Figure 15-5). You can access this dialog box inseveral ways:

• By using the Formulas?Function Library?Insert Function command.
• By clicking the Insert Function icon, which is directly to the left of the Formula bar. This button displays fx.
• By pressing Shift+F3.

FIGURE 15-5
The Insert Function dialog box.

The Insert Function dialog box shows a drop-down list of function categories. Select a category, and the functions in that category are displayed in the list box. To access a function that you’ve used recently, select Most Recently Used from the drop-down list.

If you’re not sure which function you need, you can search for the appropriate function by using the Search For A Function box at the top of the dialog box. Enter your search terms, click Go, and you’ll get a list of relevant functions.

When you select a function in the Select A Function list box, Excel displays the function (and its argument names) in the dialog box along with a brief description of what the function does.

When you locate the function you want to use, highlight it and click OK. Excel then displays its Function Arguments dialog box, as shown in Figure 15-6. Use this dialog box to specify the arguments for the function.

The dialog box will vary, depending on the function you’re inserting, and it will show one text box for each of the function’s arguments. To use a cell or range reference as an argument, you can enter the address manually or click inside the argument box and then select (that is, point to) the cell or range in the sheet).After you’ve specified all the function arguments, click OK.

FIGURE 15-6
The Function Arguments dialog box.

Yet another way to insert a function while you’re entering a formula is to use the Function List to the left of the Formula bar. When you are entering or editing a formula, the space normally occupied by the Name box displays a list of the functions you’ve used most recently. After you select a function from this list, Excel displays the Function Arguments dialog box.

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