xl Precision
Get Your Numbers Right

xlPrecision Tips

• Repeatedly typing in xlPrecision's functions can be tedious and prone to typographical errors. You might want to set up abbreviations for them and have Excel automatically change the abbreviations you type in to the full function names. For example, you could have Excel automatically change something like "xm" to "xlpMULTIPLY", "xs" for "xlpSUBTRACT", etc.

  • In Excel, choose Tools | AutoCorrect

  • Under "Replace:", type in xm

  • Under "With:", type in xlpMULTIPLY

  • Click Add

  • Repeat as desired for other functions, using whatever abbreviations you wish.

  • Click OK.

• You might want to have a way to increase or reduce the number of significant digits returned for all xlPrecision formulas, all at the same time. To do so, enter the number in unused cell, and refer to it from the xlPrecision formula. For example:

  • Cell A1:
    100

  • Cells A2 - A5:
    =xlpMULTIPLY(B2,C2,,,,A1)
    =xlpMULTIPLY(B3,C3,,,,A1)
    =xlpMULTIPLY(B4,C4,,,,A1)
    =xlpMULTIPLY(B5,C5,,,,A1)

  Then, you can change the number in cell A1 to affect all the xlPrecision formulas that refer to A1.

  To keep that reference the same while copying the formula down rows or across columns, change it to an absolute reference by adding "$" characters, like this:

  • =xlpMULTIPLY(B2,C2,,,,$A$1)

   

• Although using Excel's Insert Function Wizard is more convenient than entering functions manually, especially with many arguments, it can be slow because Excel recalculates the function every time a digit or character is entered in the Wizard. To speed up that process, enter "0" for all numeric operands (such as num and rt for xlpROOT), so that the function does not take long to calculate. Then, when done with the Wizard, manually change the numeric operands to the desired numbers directly in the worksheet.

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