This technique allows more efficient use of the copy command, thereby greatly reducing the number of formulas needed in many spreadsheets. The smaller the number of formulas that have to be typed, the less chance mistakes will be made. Policy No. 6. This allows new data to be inserted between, above or below the old data and still be included in the column total. Break down complex formulas into simple steps.
Long formulas are difficult to edit, understand and review.
Lookup tables can often be useful in shortening long complex formulas.