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Default What does -- do?


Hi,

I was wondering what -- does. I'm assuming -- does not mean +.
Specifically, I saw one example from Contextures with:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ColourList=B15),(UnitsList),--(DateList=$C$2),--(DateList<=$E$2))

Although I'm specifically referring to sumproduct, if it has different
meanings/usage elsewhere, I'd be interested in knowing about that too.
If you know of a website that explains it, that would work fine too.
(-- isn't an easy thing to search for)

Thanks,
Scott


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Maistrye
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Default What does -- do?

=sumproduct() likes to work with numbers. The -- stuff changes trues and falses
to 1's and 0's.

Bob Phillips explains =sumproduct() in much more detail he
http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html

And J.E. McGimpsey has some notes at:
http://mcgimpsey.com/excel/formulae/doubleneg.html

Maistrye wrote:

Hi,

I was wondering what -- does. I'm assuming -- does not mean +.
Specifically, I saw one example from Contextures with:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ColourList=B15),(UnitsList),--(DateList=$C$2),--(DateList<=$E$2))

Although I'm specifically referring to sumproduct, if it has different
meanings/usage elsewhere, I'd be interested in knowing about that too.
If you know of a website that explains it, that would work fine too.
(-- isn't an easy thing to search for)

Thanks,
Scott

--
Maistrye
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Maistrye's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=36078
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=559971


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Dave Peterson
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Default What does -- do?

I've also seen folks use it to convert text date values to numeric for some
logical comparisons, like

=I11<(--"4/5/06") -U.S. short date format. Note that the DATE function is
probably a better choice if your workbook will be used by others.


"Maistrye" wrote:


Hi,

I was wondering what -- does. I'm assuming -- does not mean +.
Specifically, I saw one example from Contextures with:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ColourList=B15),(UnitsList),--(DateList=$C$2),--(DateList<=$E$2))

Although I'm specifically referring to sumproduct, if it has different
meanings/usage elsewhere, I'd be interested in knowing about that too.
If you know of a website that explains it, that would work fine too.
(-- isn't an easy thing to search for)

Thanks,
Scott


--
Maistrye
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maistrye's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=36078
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=559971


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