Forum Discussion
Lambda function is missing on Excel Insider Beta
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.