Excel: Documentation Error with Array Arguments to Functions

Last reviewed: November 3, 1994
Article ID: Q78661

Summary:

The "Microsoft Excel Function Reference" for version 3.0, states the following on pages xiii and xiv:

   Some worksheet functions (AND, AVERAGE...) can take from 1 to 14
   arguments, all of the same data type. If an array is used as an
   argument to one of those functions, each element of the array
   produces a single result. For example, SUM({1,2,3;4,5,6}) has one
   element and produces one result, 21.

The portion of the statement which reads

   ...each element of the array produces a single result

can be interpreted incorrectly to mean that each element produces its own single result. A clearer statement would be:

   ...each element of the array is evaluated as if it were a separate
   and unique value. The combined elements of the array produce a
   single result.

References(s):

"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 3.0, pages xiii-xiv

"Microsoft Excel Functions and Macros," version 2.1, page 13

KBCategory: kbother
KBSubcategory:
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.0

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Last reviewed: November 3, 1994
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