Insert function
The ability to perform basic calculations is the principal reason for using a spreadsheet. Some of them are performed automatically when you select a cell range in your spreadsheet:
- Average is used to analyze the selected cell range and find the average value.
- Count is used to count the number of the selected cells with values ignoring the empty cells.
- Min is used to analyze the range of data and find the smallest number.
- Max is used to analyze the range of data and find the largest number.
- Sum is used to add all the numbers in the selected range ignoring the empty cells or those contaning text.
The results of these calculations are displayed in the right lower corner on the status bar. You can manage the status bar by right-clicking on it and choosing only those functions to display that you need.
To perform any other calculations, you can insert the required formula manually using the common mathematical operators or insert a predefined formula - Function.
The abilities to work with Functions are accessible from both the Home and Formula tab or by pressing Shift+F3 key combination. On the Home tab, you can use the Insert function 
button to add one of the most commonly used functions (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT) or open the Insert Function window that contains all the available functions classified by category. Use the search box to find the exact function by its name.
On the Formula tab you can use the following buttons:
- Function - to open the Insert Function window that contains all the available functions classified by category.
- Autosum - to quickly access the SUM, MIN, MAX, COUNT functions. When you select a functions from this group, it automatically performs calculations for all cells in the column above the selected cell so that you don't need to enter arguments.
- Recently used - to quickly access 10 recently used functions.
- Financial, Logical, Text and data, Date and time, Lookup and references, Math and trigonometry - to quickly access functions that belongs to the corresponding categories.
- More functions - to access the functions from the following groups: Database, Engineering, Information and Statistical.
- Named ranges - to open the Name Manager, or define a new name, or paste a name as a function argument. For more details, you can refer to this page.
- Calculation - to force the program to recalculate functions.
To insert a function,
- Select a cell where you wish to insert a function.
- Proceed in one of the following ways:
- switch to the Formula tab and use the buttons available on the top toolbar to access a function from a specific group, then click the necessary function to open the Function Arguments wizard. You can also use the Additional option from the menu or click the
Function button on the top toolbar to open the Insert Function window. - switch to the Home tab, click the Insert function icon, select one of the commonly used functions (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT) or click the Additional option to open the Insert Function window.
- right-click within the selected cell and select the Insert Function option from the contextual menu.
- click the
icon before the formula bar.
- switch to the Formula tab and use the buttons available on the top toolbar to access a function from a specific group, then click the necessary function to open the Function Arguments wizard. You can also use the Additional option from the menu or click the
- In the opened Insert Function window, enter its name in the search box or select the necessary function group, then choose the required function from the list and click OK.
Once you click the necessary function, the Function Arguments window will open:
-
In the opened Function Arguments window, enter the necessary values of each argument.
You can enter the function arguments either manually or by clicking the
icon and selecting a cell or cell range to be included as an argument.Note: generally, numeric values, logical values (TRUE, FALSE), text values (must be quoted), cell references, cell range references, names assigned to ranges and other functions can be used as function arguments.
The function result will be displayed below.
- When all the agruments are specified, click the OK button in the Function Arguments window.
To enter a function manually using the keyboard,
- Select a cell.
- Enter the equal sign (=).
Each formula must begin with the equal sign (=).
- Enter the function name.
Once you type the initial letters, the Formula Autocomplete list will be displayed. As you type, the items (formulas and names) that match the entered characters are displayed in it. If you hover the mouse pointer over a formula, a tooltip with the formula description will be displayed. You can select the necessary formula from the list and insert it by clicking it or pressing the Tab key.
- Enter the function arguments either manually or by dragging to select a cell range to be included as an argument. If the function requires several arguments, they must be separated by commas.
Arguments must be enclosed into parentheses. The opening parenthesis '(' is added automatically if you select a function from the list. When you enter arguments, a tooltip that contains the formula syntax is also displayed.
- When all the agruments are specified, enter the closing parenthesis ')' and press Enter.
If you enter new data or change the values used as arguments, recalculation of functions is performed automatically by default. You can force the program to recalculate functions by using the Calculation button on the Formula tab. Click the 
Calculation button to recalculate the entire workbook, or click the arrow below the button and choose the necessary option from the menu: Calculate workbook or Calculate current sheet.
You can also use the following key combinations: F9 to recalculate the workbook, Shift +F9 to recalculate the current worksheet.
Here is the list of the available functions grouped by categories: