Tool to help write Excel formulas and IF statements?

Question

This is an Excel formula with nested IF statements:

=IF((B2="East"),4,IF((B2="West"),3,IF((B2="North"),2,IF((B2="South"),1,""))))

To essentially accomplish this:

If cell B2 = "East"
   return "4"

ElseIf cell B2 = "West"
   return "3"

ElseIf cell B2 = "North"
   return "2"

ElseIf cell B2 = "South"
   return "1"

Else
   return ""

Can Excel formulas be written in such a "more readable" manner and converted to the official syntax? Is there any tool to help write Excel formulas?

This may be a "superuser" question ... but only programmers might know the answer!

Answer 1

Excel Formula Formatter add-in by Rob van Gelder, mentioned at Daily Dose of Excel.

Excel's formula bar ignores line feeds and white space, so you can Alt+Enter and spacebar to format the formulas however you like. I've tried it and I quickly stopped doing it. Too much spacebar-ing, especially if you need to edit.

Answer 2

One option would be to use VBA to create a User Defined Function.

You'd add a new Module to the Workbook and then put in some VB that looked something like this:

Function DirectionAsInt(Direction)
    Select Case (Direction):
        Case "East":
            DirectionAsInt = 4
        Case "West":
            DirectionAsInt = 3
        Case "North":
            DirectionAsInt = 2
        Case "South":
            DirectionAsInt = 1
    End Select
End Function

Then in your cell you could put:

=DirectionAsInt(B2)

Answer 3

Is there any tool to help write Excel formulas?

I don't think there is, I'm afraid.

In the specific example given, I'd be inclined to do the following:

1. Create a new Name, ccall it something like CompassPoints and set its value to ={"South";"North";"West";"East"}
2. Now your formula becomes =MATCH(CompassPoints, B2, 0)

Answer 4

When I have done this before I have just used my favorite text editor and did replacements. Not a great solution, but it works. Additionally, you can make this a vb function, wich is a bit more readable. The downside of doign that is increased execution time and having to have macros enabled.

For your example, you might also just make a lookup table on another worksheet or in some hidden cells.