Bryan,
1.
Nothing in this world is perfect.
(Try looking at the lists of bug fixes in SAS sometime!)
2.
If you hear of an issue with precision/floating point errors or mod(),
please verify it yourself, or ask us to verify it.
Singles and Doubles are inexact an any language. This is not peculiar to Excel.
I use Mod() or VBA Mod often, and have not seen any problem.
3.
I maintain a list of all known changes at each Excel Release, which I send out
upon request.
4.
Important calculations should be handled in a formal way. This is provided for
in Excel by Add-Ins, where all the calculations are in VBA modules and protected
Sheets. Informal use of Excel, like formulas in open Sheets, while good for
working out algorithms initially, should move along a maturity curve, into Excel
Add-Ins written by skilled personnel, before being used routinely for important
calculations.
IMHO
Kevin Hankins
Applied Statistics
Product Test & Validation
MS R117
Delphi Delco Electronics Systems
POB 9005
KOKOMO IN 46904-9005
765-451-7670
[log in to unmask]
"Expressions are my own, not my Company's. No warranty shall be implied."
[log in to unmask] on 12/10/2000 06:45:35 AM
Please respond to "ASSUME (Association of Statistics Specialists Using Microsoft
Excel)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
cc: (bcc: Kevin T Hankins/DELCO)
Subject: Excel Bugs
Hi there:
I was just wondering whether anyone had a comprehensive list of the bugs that
are present in Excel. I already know that there is at least one error in the
statistics add-on that comes with Excel, something to do with a one-sided
F-statistic being used where a two-sided one should be used.
Additionally, I know that some serious anomalies can result between a
calculation result derived from a cell formula in Excel and one that results
from using VB code in an Excel spreadsheet. The example I read was Mod(), but
I guess there are others?
Finally, there seems to be an issue with precision/ floating point errors.
Can anyone please correct/clarify/augment my above points? I find it amazing
that this is a package that is commonly used by maultinationals etc. to carry
out important calculations yet there doesn't seem to be any independent proof
that Excel can "add-up"!
Is there a web resource detailing all of Excels flaws?
Thanks in advance.
Bryan.
PS: I only come home at weekends so I won't be able to respond to any replies
until 16/12! Ta.
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