Array formulas in module components

Array Formulas
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Array formulas in module components

Is it true that array formulas can not be entered into module components???

Michael Hutchens A+ 162

Hi Yury,

Yes, this is true. We originally excluded them from module component cell blocks because early versions of Modano were much less sophisticated and had issues inserting and deleting rows and columns with array formulas.

Since that time, the platform is sophisticated enough to handle them but we've not allowed them yet because of concerns about when and how they should be used. Big picture, Modano automatically maintains consistent formulas in cell blocks when categories and time series periods are added and removed, so the need for array formulas is less than would be the case without Modano. There's also the issue of when it's ok to include them and when they will cause strange outcomes. The platform doesn't stop users from inserting range names into module components, so a similar outcome can be achieved using them instead.

Ultimately, if enough users show a strong desire for us to support array formulas we'll allocate resources to allowing them...

We're interested in any comments you have about issues created by not allowing them for which there aren't simple workarounds...

Cheers, M.

Michael Hutchens A+ 162

There's no really good reason why we haven't allowed array formulas into module components, it's just a bit fiddly from an engineering perspective so we haven't done it yet. We will definitely get to it soon though.

In the interim, there are always workarounds to array formulas, which are arguably more user-friendly and easier to audit. For example, the OFFSET and COLUMNS function can be used within a cell block within a module component to do the same thing as an array formula using the TRANSPOSE function, as shown below:

At the end of the day, Modano aims to empower Excel users with ways of automating what they currently do in Excel, not limit them in any way or force approaches upon anyone. So we're very accepting of many users' preference for array formulas and will be accommodating via a future upgrade. It will have to be a major release upgrade though, as modules containing array formulas won't work on the current version of Modano.