Microsoft KB Archive/110464

Microsoft Knowledge Base

XL5: Examples of YEARFRAC Function Incorrect in Help

Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
Article ID: Q110464

5.00 5.00c 7.00| 5.00

WINDOWS        | MACINTOSH

DocErr kbdocerr

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel Help, the examples for the YEARFRAC function are incorrect.

The current examples read:

YEARFRAC(DATEVALUE("01/01/93"),DATEVALUE("06/30/93"),0) equals 0.5 YEARFRAC(DATEVALUE("01/01/93"),DATEVALUE("07/01/93"),3) equals 0.49863

The correct examples should read:

YEARFRAC(DATEVALUE("01/01/93"),DATEVALUE("06/30/93"),0) equals 0.497222 YEARFRAC(DATEVALUE("01/01/93"),DATEVALUE("07/01/93"),3) equals 0.49589

MORE INFORMATION

Although the behavior of the YEARFRAC function in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0 is slightly different from its behavior in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, the examples in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0 Help still show the Microsoft Excel version 4.0 behavior.

The YEARFRAC function uses the start date and end date arguments to calculate the fraction of a year.

The way these dates are used has changed in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0. For example, with a start date of 1/1/93 and end date of 1/1/94, Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0 consider it 1 year whereas Microsoft Excel version 4.0 considers it 1 year and 1 day (1.00274 years).

To locate the error:

1. In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, choose Search for Help On from the Help menu.
2. Enter "Yearfrac" (without the quotation marks).
3. Select Show Topics, then choose Go To.
4. Scroll through the Help window until you locate the Examples section.

KBCategory: kbdocerr KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: 5.00 7.00 Keywords : kbdocerr Version : 5.00 5.00c 7.00| 5.00 Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Last reviewed: March 27, 1997 ©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.