EDATE is a Date function. It returns the date a specified number of months after a given date. The EDATE Function returns the date serial number that is the indicated number of months before or after a specified date (the start_date). Use EDATE to calculate maturity dates or due dates that fall on the same…
SUM is the best-known formula in Excel. It is versatile, easy to use and even has its own icon on the ribbon. However, there are times when SUM can lead you astray. Take for example where you need SUMs of other SUM formulas. This can happen in any sort of accounting with subtotals. You may…
What are Data Tables for? I’m glad you asked. Data Tables are a subset of “What if” analysis. You can try different data inputs and see the results in a Data Table. Data Tables in Excel are on the Data ribbon, in the Forecast group, in the What-if Analysis dropdown list. Goal Seek and Scenario…
We often need to find a value between or near two other known values. If we do not have a more accurate curve, a straight line will have to do. This is Linear Interpolation (or extrapolation). Excel is a good way to do it. For example, I read our electricity meters weekly. This lets me…
Naming your ranges in Excel has many benefits, not only for engineers but for everyone. But what is a Range Name? How do I name a range? How do I use it? What is a Range? Let’s start with ranges. What is a “Range” in Excel? It’s just a group of cells. You’ve been using…
Do you need to pick out a name from a list based on some data? It might be the best-performing employee or department. Or the machine next in need of a service. Or the supplier whose concrete mix was the most consistent, or many others. This isn’t specifically an engineering application, but of general use:…
Welcome to the Excel for Engineers Blog. As Tim Urban at Wait But Why says, “a new post every sometimes”. But we’ll aim for one a week and see how it goes. If you’re an engineer who uses Excel (and who isn’t?), bookmark this blog and return often. It should be more prolific than our…