XL: Using "Most Recently Used" Category in Function Wizard

ID: Q107221

The information in this article applies to:


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SUMMARY

In the Microsoft Excel Function Wizard, the "Most Recently Used" function category contains the last 10 functions you used in the Function Wizard. When you use a function in the Function Wizard, that function is added to the "Most Recently Used" list. If there are already 10 functions in the list, the last function on this list is removed from the list and the new function is added.

It is not possible to remove the "Most Recently Used" list from the Function Wizard.

When you start the Function Wizard, the function category you used last is automatically selected. For example, if the last category you used was the "Most Recently Used" category, this category will be selected when you next use the Function Wizard.

NOTE: The most recently used list in the Function Wizard is not updated if you are using a custom function or a function from an add-in. The list is updated only when you use the functions that are in the function wizard by default.


MORE INFORMATION

Resetting the Most Recently Used List

Although you cannot totally clear the Most Recently Used function list, you can reset it. The following instructions show you how to reset the "Most Recently Used" function category list. Use the instructions that apply to your version of Microsoft Excel. The 10 default functions on the "Most Recently Used" function category list are listed in the following table. 


   Microsoft Excel       Microsoft Excel 97
   version 5.0 and 7.0
   ----------------------------------------

   Average               Sum
   Count                 Average
   If                    If
   Max                   Hyperlink
   Min                   Count
   Pmt                   Max
   Round                 Sin
   Sum                   SumIf
   SumIf                 Pmt
   Vlookup               Stdev


Microsoft Excel 7.0 and Microsoft Excel 97

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For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To reset the "Most Recently Used" function category list, you must modify the Windows registry. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Quit Microsoft Excel.


  2. On the Microsoft Windows 95 taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.


  3. In the Run box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks) and click OK.


  4. For your version of Microsoft Excel, locate the following key. 

    
      Excel 97
      --------

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel\Microsoft
      Excel

      Excel 7.0
      ---------

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Excel\7.0\Microsoft Excel


  5. In the right pane, locate the entry named "MRUFuncs."


  6. Click this entry, press DELETE, and click Yes when prompted to confirm the deletion.


  7. On the Registry menu, click Exit.


  8. Start Microsoft Excel.


When you start the Function Wizard, the list of functions is reset to the 10 default functions.

Microsoft Excel Version 5.0 (Windows)

To reset the Most Recently Used list, edit the Excel5.ini file (usually in your Windows directory). To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Quit Microsoft Excel.


  2. Open the Excel5.ini file by using a text editor, such as Notepad or the Edit program included with MS-DOS 5.x or 6.x.


  3. In the [Microsoft Excel] section of the Excel5.ini, change the line that begins with "MRUFuncs=." Delete all characters following the equal sign so that the line contains only the following text:

    MRUFuncs=


  4. Save the Excel5.ini file and quit the text editor.


When you start the Function Wizard, the list of functions is reset to the 10 default functions.

Microsoft Excel Version 5.0 (Macintosh)

To reset the Most Recently Used list, you must delete the preferences file for Microsoft Excel. Note that you will lose your other custom settings for the Microsoft Excel environment if you delete this file.

To delete your Microsoft Excel preferences file, locate the following file 


   <Hard disk name>: System Folder: Preferences: Excel Settings (5)


and drag it into the trash.

Preventing the Most Recently Used Function List from Being Updated

The only way to prevent the Most Recently Used Function list from being updated is to not use the Function Wizard. Functions that are entered without using the Function Wizard are not added to the Most Recently Used Function list.

Additional query words: 8.00 97 XL97 XL7 XL5 MRU 


Keywords          : kbdta xlformula 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 9, 1999