Microsoft Excel Training Videos

The 'IF' function in Excel - probably the most versatile function
The if function in Excel can help solve many problems. With 'if' you can perform calculations with Excel data based on defined conditions and you can analyze excel data based on set criteria. Therefore, using 'if' helps you analyze and calculate the data according to the problem definition. Let's say a company provides a certain quality of accomodation to its managers based on the loaction like a small city or large metro. A teacher may wish to assign a grade to her students based on the total marks they have obtained. An employer may wish to give a bonus amount based on the sales amount in a quarter and so on. Using the if function you could easily extract or calculate the values.

Implementation of the function

  • Start by typing '=' in the cell where you want the result
  • Then type 'if' followed by a '(' and type your condition like'c2="GM"'
  • Next define a value if the condition is true after a 'comma' like 'b2*100%'
  • Follow this with a 'comma' and define the value like 'b2*50%' if the condtion is false
  • In plain English, you actually told the Excel program to print the value if your defined condition is true, else print another defined value, if the condtion is not true
  • Text conditions like 'GM' have to be defined as '"GM"' with the double quotes. Numbers are defined without quotes.
  • Refer to the Excel training video for a demonstration of the concept of 'if'
Further reading on the if function in Microsoft Excel
If function in Excel