Using formulas in SharePoint

Pointers from sharepointdiscussions@yahoo.com to answers for a question I have often asked myself but never researched: just what can you put into a SharePoint calculated column formula?

------ Forwarded Message 
From: Peter Brunone 
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:02:06 -0500 
To: "sharepointdiscussions@yahoogroups.com" 

Subject: Re: [sharepointdiscussions] using formulas in sharepoint 

Hi Liz, 

    The functions look (to me) a lot like XPath, but I'm at a loss to put a 
name on them.  You can find an overview and a complete function list, 
respectively, at the following locations: 

Summary: 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointtechnology/CH011711541033.aspx 

Function List: 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointtechnology/CH011711171033.aspx 

    As you will discover, the "if" condition isn't quite what you'd expect 
as a .NET developer.  There's actually a function that performs a test and 
returns one of two parameters based on the result of the test; you can read 
the explanation of the IF function at the following location: 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointtechnology/HA011610101033.aspx 

    Yell if you need more help. 

Cheers, 

*Peter Brunone * 

*Improving*  – It's what we do. | www.improvingenterprises.com 


On Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 9:01 AM, Liz.Pumilia wrote: 

> Hello all, 
> 
> 
> 
> I am brand new to using formulas in SharePoint. First question is what 
> language is the formula written in? Next question is how would I write a 
> formula to fill in a field called "Completed date"  that looks at a 
> field [status] and uses the current date if the status is "06-Complete". 
> The following is what I tried, but again it is just a shot in the dark. 
> 
> 
> 
> If [status]="06-Complete" then {Completed date]=current 
> 
> 
> 
> Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
> 
> 
> Liz Pumilia 
> 
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