XL98: Using "Most Recently Used" Category for Functions (193821)

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, the "Most Recently Used" function category in the Formula Palette and in the Paste Function dialog box contains the last 10 functions you used in these tools. When you use a function in the Formula Palette or the Paste Function dialog box, that function is added to the "Most Recently Used" list. If there are already 10 functions in the list, the last function on this list is removed from the list and the new function is added.

It is not possible to remove the "Most Recently Used" list from the Formula Palette or the Paste Function dialog box.

When you open the Paste Function dialog box, the function category you used last is automatically selected. For example, if the last category you used was the "Most Recently Used" category, this category will be selected when you next use the Paste Function dialog box.

NOTE: The most recently used function list is not updated if you are using a custom function. The list is updated only when you use the functions that are in Microsoft Excel by default.

MORE INFORMATION

Resetting the Most Recently Used List

Although you cannot totally clear the Most Recently Used function list, you can reset it. The following instructions show you how to reset the "Most Recently Used" function category list. The 10 default functions on the "Most Recently Used" function category list are listed here:

   Sum
   Average
   If
   Hyperlink
   Count
   Max
   Sin
   SumIf
   Pmt
   Stdev

To reset the Most Recently Used list, you must delete the preferences file for Microsoft Excel. Note that you will lose your other custom settings for the Microsoft Excel environment if you delete this file.

To delete your Microsoft Excel preferences file, locate the following file

<Hard disk name>: System Folder: Preferences: Excel Settings (8)

and drag it into the trash.

Preventing the Most Recently Used Function List from Being Updated

The only way to prevent the Most Recently Used Function list from being updated is to not use the Formula Palette or the Paste Function dialog box. Functions that are entered without using the Formula Palette or the Paste Function dialog box are not added to the Most Recently Used Function list.

REFERENCES

For more information about using the Formula Palette, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

formula palette

and then click Show Topics. Select the "About using the Formula Palette to enter and edit formulas" topic, and click Go To. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.