Many SpreadScript functions are compatible with functions in Microsoft Excel. In most cases, the compatible functions have the same name in both SpreadScript and Excel; e.g., ``SUM().'' In a few cases, the Excel and SpreadScript functions with the same name behave differently. For example, the Excel ``IPMT()'' function returns a negative value, while the SpreadScript ``IPMT()'' function returns a positive value (of the same magnitude). When there is such a name conflict, SpreadScript provides an equivalent Excel-compatible function by prefixing the function name with ``XL.'' For example, the SpreadScript ``XLIPMT()'' function provides compatibility with the Excel version of ``IPMT().'' When SpreadScript is operating in Excel compatibility mode (see Section 3.2.1), the ``XL'' prefix is not used as the Excel-compatible version of the function will be used automatically.
Table 4.2 lists alphabetically the functions in Excel which are compatible with functions in SpreadScript. Functions not in this table should not be used when developing SpreadScript applications that are designed to be compatible with Excel. Excel compatibility is also listed for each function in the Quick Reference Guide (Section 4.11) and the detailed function reference manual in Appendix A.