Forum Discussion
Excel - Ignore Capitalization in Formula
Not to avoid answering the question, but to give you an opportunity to learn for yourself, I will tell you what I think is the answer, and then give you some advice.
I think the answer, based on a fair amount of experience, is that Excel is "smart enough' to work with either upper or lower.
Now the advice: experiment. It's what I'd have to do in order to be sure of my answer. It's a good habit to get into for your own learning of Excel. In this case, an easy experiment. Presumably you have your formulas written already, or at least an idea of what you want to be testing or doing as a consequence of an "X" or an "x" or a " " [blank]. So write the formula specifying "x" and see if "X" and "x" work interchangeably. My prediction is that they will. Either way, you have your answer and you've done it on your own.
Not to avoid answering the question, but to give you an opportunity to learn for yourself, I will tell you what I think is the answer, and then give you some advice.
I think the answer, based on a fair amount of experience, is that Excel is "smart enough' to work with either upper or lower.
Now the advice: experiment. It's what I'd have to do in order to be sure of my answer. It's a good habit to get into for your own learning of Excel. In this case, an easy experiment. Presumably you have your formulas written already, or at least an idea of what you want to be testing or doing as a consequence of an "X" or an "x" or a " " [blank]. So write the formula specifying "x" and see if "X" and "x" work interchangeably. My prediction is that they will. Either way, you have your answer and you've done it on your own.
Thank you very much, Mathetes!
Don't be timid about trying things out. Have fun. Play. Learn through trial and error. It's the best way to pick things up in life (OK, be prudent about the level of risk you're willing to take)...especially with Excel.
One of the reasons I have fun answering questions here in this forum is that it gives me a chance to research and learn functions that I've not used before. And from time to time, I like to encourage folks like you to relax and play a little bit in order to discover for yourself the answers to your own questions.
- I have done a little bit of poking around (within reason) and I've definitely learned a lot working on this project. Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂
Back in the day--I've never been an IT professional--I used to read the printed manuals that came with software like Lotus 1-2-3, which in many ways was the first spreadsheet to truly make personal computers must-haves on corporate desks. I'd read the manuals--skimming often--on, say, an annual basis, and almost always come up with an "Aha, THAT'S an easier way to do X"; one of the things you've already discovered, in a relatively minor way, is that there almost always are multiple ways in Excel to get from point A to point B. There are different functions, different ways to write the formula, some less effective perhaps, but they still get the job done.
If you don't have some reference texts--if you're gong to be doing more and more with Excel -- I highly recommend you become acquainted with some of the many websites that offer solid guidance. One of my favorites is ExcelJet. There are also many solid YouTube channels worth subscribing to, where they'll actually walk you through how to implement some of the more sophisticated functions. PivotTable is a capability, for example, well worth acquainting yourself with (if you haven't already). And then there are books....You know how to research that category.