Forum Discussion
Lambda function is missing on Excel Insider Beta
Ers_SivHello,
I would like to know if you have any update on that because I'm facing the same issue.
If I look at this link it says that the function should be available for every build starting from
- Windows: Beta Channel Version 2012 Build 13519.20000 or higher.
https://insider.office.com/en-us/blog/lambda-excel-custom-functions
Now if I look at this to understand builds versionning :
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-beta-channel
Sounds like Version 2101 (Build 13610.20002) is the most recent build there is and it's the one I'm having.
Still I don't have an access to the Lambda function.
Am I missing something ?
If you have proper build that only means the code for the lambda functionality is included in that build. But that doesn't mean this functionality is switched on for you.
If to simplify that's like with corporate credit card. If you have one that means you have access to some bank account, but that doesn't mean that your employer put money on this account.
It is extraordinarily frustrating though. I wasn't able to recommend dynamic arrays for financial modelling because accumulations and row sums become a mess of MMULTS and SUMIFS if you want to make the entire model dynamic. I even got as for as proposing a function on UserVoice, which would iterate over selected array variables without involving them in aggregation or pairwise lifting.
Now the LAMBDA function appears to do the job with some elegance. I think I can write a formula for accumulation with variable interest rates and adjustments to impose limits on the balance. I have examples with multidimensional arrays where the recommended solution is to normalise the data and use SUMIFS. I think the recursion available from LAMBDA will allow me to work with the more natural 4D array of 'units sold'. I had set some time aside to refactor the solution workbooks but I am left, knowing the functionality exists on my machine, but I can't access it!
For most developments, I am quite content to wait for an incremental rollout but dynamic arrays, LET and now LAMBDA do not fall into that category. I wish I had a way of overriding the rollout lottery; after all, I would never paid for an Office subscription had it not been for this functionality.
PeterBartholomew1 , I hope I understand your point, but what can we do, that's the model which Microsoft uses. Even being an MVP or participating in other programs, in addition to insiders, in many cases doesn't give the warranty you receive new functionality first. MVP only have information, which is under NDA, some earlier than other users, but receive (or don't receive) new functionality on the same basis as other insiders.
My approach - I have 3 beta installations under the same account on different (includes virtual) machines, at least one of them usually wins the lottery. Or that could be few different MSA accounts using same machine, also could help.
I guess you'd like me to transfer your point to Microsoft - believe me, they know. Perhaps one day that will be improved, but that's not as easy as flick the switch. And that's not Microsoft Excel team responsibility, at least directly.
SergeiBaklanAnd that is my point, if they give you a credit card, what not put the money in it as well. If you wont, dont give the credit card then.
What is the purpose of rolling it out gradually among Beta users. Obviously Beta users wants to try things ahead of time and give you feed back. Why not give them all access at once.
Anyways, MS is dropping the ball on some of it's Excel functionalities lately, bigtime.
SergeiBaklan Thank you for the quick reply.
Just for the record I'm working as a Freelance, and I would not let myself turn short of money on the bank account associated with my corporate credit card 🙂
That's easier, but here we don't code lambda functionality for ourselves.
