Explain an Excel formula
A three-line formula inherited from a colleague, a VLOOKUP returning something odd: paste it, each function is spelled out, from the outside in, and whatever is likely to go wrong is flagged.
What this tool does
- Formulas from an English or a French Excel, recognised automatically (, or ; separators).
- Each function in one sentence, its arguments named, nested functions numbered.
- The classic pitfalls: approximate match, range not locked with $, hard-coded column number, IFERROR too broad, date joined with &, volatile functions, division by zero.
- The formula in the other Excel language, ready to copy.
What it does not do: The formula is read, not calculated: without the workbook, the cell contents are unknown. A whole workbook's formulas are reviewed with the formula audit.
No file is uploaded. Turn off your network once this page has loaded: the tool keeps working. How to check it yourself.
Other tools
- Translate a formula : VLOOKUP to RECHERCHEV, commas to semicolons: the formula moves from one Excel to the other.
- Find the right formula : What you want to do, your cells: the formula is written, ready to paste.
- Workbook health check : Size, phantom rows, styles, links, errors, hidden content: all of it, with one-click fixes.
- Formula audit : Errors, hard-coded values, formulas that stand out: what to check in a model.
- Slim down a workbook : Phantom rows, thousands of styles, copied formatting: the extra weight, removed.