StarOffice™ 5.2 Calc Handbook

Using Advanced Functions

Calc offers numerous advanced functions that allow you to do very complex calculations. And while coverage of all the advanced functions is beyond the scope of this book, we will take a look at the IF function, and the LOOKUP functions (HLOOKUP and VLOOKUP).

To Use the IF Function

The IF function is a Logical category function that allows you to place conditional statements in your spreadsheets. These conditional statements can return text entries or values to the cell containing the IF function.

The IF function syntax is:

test; then value; otherwise value

For example, let's say you have a collection of “prized” travel magazines that you have catalogued in a Calc spreadsheet with the publication date of each magazine ...