EXACT function vs. equals operator
Greg Lovern
differently from the equals operator?
I like that EXACT is case sensitive where the equals operator is not,
but sometimes it returns False and I can't find the difference between
the two text strings beting compared, and the equals operator returns
True.
Thanks,
Greg
joeu2004
> Where can I find a list of everything Excel's EXACT function
> does differently from the equals operator?
Well, Excel help. But if you are using XL2007, I just learned how
difficult that might be. (I am borrowing someone's computer with
XL2007.) Two options: (1) disable online content by clicking Search,
then Excel Help under On This Computer; or (2) click on List of
Worksheet Functions, etc.
> I like that EXACT is case sensitive where the equals operator is not
That's all it does really -- case-sensitive compare for equality.
> but sometimes it returns False and I can't find the difference between
> the two text strings beting compared, and the equals operator returns
> True.
Post what you are comparing and your "exact" formula (pun
intended) ;-). If you are comparing cells, what does TYPE(A1) return
for each cell?
I have tried a few WAGs, but I have not yet stumbled upon an example
that duplicates your observation.
Greg Lovern
> Well, Excel help. But if you are using XL2007, I just learned how
> difficult that might be. (I am borrowing someone's computer with
> XL2007.) Two options: (1) disable online content by clicking Search,
> then Excel Help under On This Computer; or (2) click on List of
> Worksheet Functions, etc.
I'm on XP, and I don't see those choices after clicking Search.
However, the lower-right corner of my help window says "Offline",
indicating "Show content only from this computer".
Where do you see, in Excel help, an explanation of what EXACT does
differently than the equals operator? I looked in Excel 2010 help and
I don't see it there either, and it too says "Offline" in the lower-
right corner of the help window.
> Post what you are comparing and your "exact" formula (pun
> intended) ;-).
Unfortunately I've already made changes and I don't get a repro now.
> If you are comparing cells, what does TYPE(A1) return
> for each cell?
Probably 2, since they are all text; none are numbers, booleans, error
values, or arrays.
> I have tried a few WAGs
Wives And Girlfriends of high-profile British soccer players??
Greg
joeu2004
> I'm on XP, and I don't see those choices after clicking Search.
I had to relinquish the Win7/XL2007 computer I was borrowing. But as
I recall, there was a down-arrow next to the word Search. (Although I
think I got the same behavior by clicking on the word Search itself.)
The drop-down menu had "checkboxes". There were two "Excel help"
checkboxes that operated like radio buttons; they were mutually
exclusive. One was under a heading like "online content"; the other
was a heading like "content on this computer".
> Where do you see, in Excel help, an explanation of what EXACT
> does differently than the equals operator?
It did not. That's the point. But see your other posting regarding
"==".
> > I have tried a few WAGs
> Wives And Girlfriends of high-profile British soccer players??
Wild Ass Guesses.
alang...@aol.com
> Where can I find a list of everything Excel's EXACT function does
> differently from the equals operator?
>
EXACT can also be used to check an entry against a range of acceptable
entries, when used in conjunction with OR() as an array formulae.
Alan Lloyd
joeu2004
Example?!
If you mean the following array formulas:
=OR(EXACT(D6,{"ab","cd","ef"}))
=OR(EXACT(D6,X1:X3))
where X1:X3 contains "ab", "cd" and "ef".
This is not a feature of EXACT, of course. It is not even a feature
of OR. It is a behavior of array formulas.
Moreover, you can do the same thing with an equals operator -- and it
does not even require an array formula. To wit:
=OR(D6={"ab","cd","ef"})
Or the array formula:
=OR(D6=X1:X3)
Greg was interested in knowing what "EXACT function does
__differently__ from the equals operator".
alang...@aol.com
> On Nov 26, 10:39 pm, "alangll...@aol.com" <alangll...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > On Nov 26, 9:26 pm, Greg Lovern <gr...@gregl.net> wrote:
> > > Where can I find a list of everything Excel's EXACT function does
> > > differently from the equals operator?
>
> > EXACT can also be used to check an entry against a range of acceptable
> > entries, when used in conjunction with OR() as an array formulae.
>
> Example?!
>
Excel Help gives as an example:
{=OR(EXACT(TestValue, CompareRange))}
Alan Lloyd
Bob Phillips
--
HTH
Bob
<alang...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8e97e84a-6c63-4a82...@y3g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
Jim Cone
From XL97 Help (still the best)...
"To make sure that a user-entered value matches a value in a range, enter the following formula as an array in a cell.
To enter an array formula, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
or +ENTER in Microsoft Excel 97 for the Macintoch.
The name TestValue refers to a cell containing a user-entered value;
the name CompareRange refers to a list of text values to be checked."
{=OR(EXACT(TestValue, CompareRange))}
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA
"Bob Phillips" <bob.ph...@somewhere.com>
wrote in message
news:id0fh3$u5o$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Where? It only shows a compariuson of single cells in my Excel.
--
HTH
Bob
<alang...@aol.com>
wrote in message
news:8e97e84a-6c63-4a82...@y3g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
Bob Phillips
And they all say Help is getting worse <g>.
HTH
Bob
"Jim Cone" wrote in message news:id0hd8$ec3$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
Jim Cone
The formula...
"=OR(EXACT(K4,A1:F55))" -or- "=OR(EXACT("Sludge",A1:F55))"
works for me in limited testing, entered as an array formula and checking for entire cell text.
Where/how does it go wrong?
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA
"Bob Phillips" <bob.ph...@somewhere.com>
wrote in message
news:id2hua$md7$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Bob Phillips
HTH
Bob
"Jim Cone" wrote in message news:id3488$m63$1...@speranza.aioe.org...