XL: Conversion to Base x Function Not Available

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Excel version 4.0 includes an add-in function named BASE() which accepts input for a base 10 number and a number designating the base to which it should be converted. BASE() outputs a text string representation of the number in that base. For example, BASE() converts the number 5 in base 10 to the string 101 if base 2 is requested.

Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later do not include the BASE() function. When you open a workbook in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, you receive a "#NAME" error in the cells that contain the BASE() function.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Function Base(InValue As Double, NewBase As Double) As String
       Dim TestVal As Double, counter As Integer, Alpha As String
       Dim Holder As Integer
       Application.Volatile
       On Error GoTo FixError
       If InValue = 0 Then GoTo FixError
       If NewBase = 0 Then GoTo FixError
       counter = 0
       TestVal = 0
       While TestVal < InValue
           TestVal = NewBase ^ counter
           If TestVal < InValue Then counter = counter + 1
       Wend
       counter = counter - 1
       Alpha = ""
       Holder = 0
       For x = counter To 0 Step -1
           Holder = Int(InValue / (NewBase ^ x))
           Alpha = Alpha & Application.Text(Holder, "0")
           InValue = InValue - (Holder * (NewBase ^ x))
       Next x
       Base = Alpha
       Exit Function
   FixError:
       Base = "#Value"
   End Function