How to use the DPRODUCT function
What is the DPRODUCT function?
The DPRODUCT function multiplies numbers that match a condition or criteria in a database.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
What is DPRODUCT an abbreviation of?
DPRODUCT is an abbreviation of Database Product.
What is a database in this context?
Excel defines a database as a list of related data in which rows of related information are records, and columns of data are fields. The first row of the list contains labels for each column.
Why use the DPRODUCT function?
The DPRODUCT function multiplies numbers that match a condition or criteria in a list/database whereas the PRODUCT function performs a calculation without a condition/criteria.
Where can you place the criteria range?
You can place your criteria range wherever you want on your worksheet, however, it is not recommended below the list/database. The function needs a blank row below the list to work properly.
What criteria characters are allowed?
Allowed criteria range characters are less than and greater than signs <>, use them to specify a criteria range. Also, asterisks * can be used to match partial strings.
What is a product?
A product is what you get when you multiply two numbers.
What is multiplication?
It is one of the four basic arithmetic operations. Multiplication means adding a number together multiple times. It is a faster way to add the same number over and over again.
For example:
5 x 3 means adding 5 together 3 times:
5 + 5 + 5 = 15
So multiplication is a shorthand for repeated addition.
What is repeated multiplication?
The PRODUCT faction returns the product of two or more numbers. If the numbers are repeated you can use exponentiation to calculate the result.
Repeated multiplication involves using multiplication to find the result of multiplying a number by itself multiple times.
For example:
- Repeatedly multiplying 5 by itself 3 times is written: 5 x 5 x 5
- The result is:
5 x 5 x 5 = 125
Repeated multiplication and exponentiation describe the same fundamental mathematical operation, 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 24
Exponentiation lets you shorten repeated multiplication considerably.
The POWER function lets you calculate a number multiplied x repeated times.
For example 5 * 5 * 5 = 53
=POWER(5,3) equals 125
you also have the alternative to use the ^character like this:
=5^3 equals 125
How to include the entire database in the calculation?
To include the entire list/database enter a blank line below the criteria range column labels.
2. Syntax
DPRODUCT (database, field, criteria)
| database | Required. The cell reference to a list or database. |
| field | Required. The field argument lets you choose which column to use. You can use the column name enclosed with double quotation marks or the corresponding column number. |
| criteria | Required. A cell reference to the criteria range. The criteria range needs to have column labels and at least one condition below the column label. |
3. Example 1
A company has six production lines, A102, A103, A099, A412, A341, A340, and A202. The probability of a defective product coming from line A102 is 0.1, A103 is 0.2, A099 is 0.05, A412 is 0.15, A341 is 0.3 , A340 is 0.07, and A202 is 0.13. The production lines are in three different categories named A, B, and C. What is the probability that all three products are defective in category A?
The data is in cell range B5:D12 in the image above, here is that data:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| A102 | A | 0.1 |
| A103 | B | 0.2 |
| A099 | C | 0.05 |
| A412 | C | 0.15 |
| A341 | B | 0.3 |
| A340 | A | 0.07 |
| A202 | C | 0.13 |
The conditions is in cell range B2:D3:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| A |
The arguments are:
database = B6:D12
field = 3
criteria = B2:D3
Formula in cell B15:
The formula multiplies numbers from column 3 (D) with the condition that the category is "A". The following probabilities are in category A: 0.1 and 0.07, the product is 0.1 * 0.7 equals 0.007 This value matches the output in cell B15.
4. Example 2
This example demonstrates AND logic between conditions.
A manufacturing plant has six production lines, A102, A103, A099, A412, A341, A340, and A202. The probability of a defective product coming from line A102 is 0.1, A103 is 0.2, A099 is 0.05, A412 is 0.15, A341 is 0.3 , A340 is 0.07, and A202 is 0.13. The production lines are in three different categories named A, B, and C. What is the probability that two products, one from each line, are defective in category C and have a probability value larger than 0.1?
The data is in cell range B5:D12 in the image above, here is that data:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| A102 | A | 0.1 |
| A103 | B | 0.2 |
| A099 | C | 0.05 |
| A412 | C | 0.15 |
| A341 | B | 0.3 |
| A340 | A | 0.07 |
| A202 | C | 0.13 |
The conditions is in cell range B2:D3:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| C | >0.1 |
The arguments are:
database = B6:D12
field = 3
criteria = B2:D3
Formula in cell B15:
The formula multiplies numbers from column 3 (D) with the condition that the category is "C" and the probability is larger than 0.1. Both conditions must match on the same row, in other words, AND logic is performed. The following probabilities are in category C: 0.05, 0.15 and 0.13, however, 0.05 is not larger than 0.1. The product is 0.15 * 0.13 equals 0.0195 This value matches the output in cell B15.
5. Example 3
This example demonstrates the asterisk which is a wildcard character. It matches 0 (zero) to any number of characters.
A factory has six production lines, A102, A103, A099, A412, A341, A340, and A202. The probability of a defective product coming from line A102 is 0.1, A103 is 0.2, A099 is 0.05, A412 is 0.15, A341 is 0.3 , A340 is 0.07, and A202 is 0.13. The production lines are in three different categories named A, B, and C. What is the probability that two products are defective, one from each line, that begins with B in column "Product"?
The data is in cell range B5:D12 in the image above, here is that data:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| A102 | A | 0.1 |
| B103 | B | 0.2 |
| A099 | C | 0.05 |
| A412 | C | 0.15 |
| B341 | B | 0.3 |
| A340 | A | 0.07 |
| A202 | C | 0.13 |
The conditions is in cell range B2:D3:
| Product | Category | Probability |
| B* |
The arguments are:
database = B6:D12
field = 3
criteria = B2:D3
Formula in cell B15:
The formula multiplies numbers from column 3 (D) with the condition that the product line begins with "B". The asterisk is a wildcard character that lets you match 0 (zero) to any number of character. The following probabilities begins with "B": 0.2 and 0.3. The product is 0.2 * 0.3 equals 0.06 This value matches the output in cell B15.
6. Function not working
The DPRODUCT function returns a
- #VALUE! error if the field argument is out of range.
- propagates errors in the source data.
6.1 Troubleshooting the error value
When you encounter an error value in a cell a warning symbol appears, displayed in the image above. Press with mouse on it to see a pop-up menu that lets you get more information about the error.
- The first line describes the error if you press with left mouse button on it.
- The second line opens a pane that explains the error in greater detail.
- The third line takes you to the "Evaluate Formula" tool, a dialog box appears allowing you to examine the formula in greater detail.
- This line lets you ignore the error value meaning the warning icon disappears, however, the error is still in the cell.
- The fifth line lets you edit the formula in the Formula bar.
- The sixth line opens the Excel settings so you can adjust the Error Checking Options.
Here are a few of the most common Excel errors you may encounter.
#NULL error - This error occurs most often if you by mistake use a space character in a formula where it shouldn't be. Excel interprets a space character as an intersection operator. If the ranges don't intersect an #NULL error is returned. The #NULL! error occurs when a formula attempts to calculate the intersection of two ranges that do not actually intersect. This can happen when the wrong range operator is used in the formula, or when the intersection operator (represented by a space character) is used between two ranges that do not overlap. To fix this error double check that the ranges referenced in the formula that use the intersection operator actually have cells in common.
#SPILL error - The #SPILL! error occurs only in version Excel 365 and is caused by a dynamic array being to large, meaning there are cells below and/or to the right that are not empty. This prevents the dynamic array formula expanding into new empty cells.
#DIV/0 error - This error happens if you try to divide a number by 0 (zero) or a value that equates to zero which is not possible mathematically.
#VALUE error - The #VALUE error occurs when a formula has a value that is of the wrong data type. Such as text where a number is expected or when dates are evaluated as text.
#REF error - The #REF error happens when a cell reference is invalid. This can happen if a cell is deleted that is referenced by a formula.
#NAME error - The #NAME error happens if you misspelled a function or a named range.
#NUM error - The #NUM error shows up when you try to use invalid numeric values in formulas, like square root of a negative number.
#N/A error - The #N/A error happens when a value is not available for a formula or found in a given cell range, for example in the VLOOKUP or MATCH functions.
#GETTING_DATA error - The #GETTING_DATA error shows while external sources are loading, this can indicate a delay in fetching the data or that the external source is unavailable right now.
6.2 The formula returns an unexpected value
To understand why a formula returns an unexpected value we need to examine the calculations steps in detail. Luckily, Excel has a tool that is really handy in these situations. Here is how to troubleshoot a formula:
- Select the cell containing the formula you want to examine in detail.
- Go to tab “Formulas” on the ribbon.
- Press with left mouse button on "Evaluate Formula" button. A dialog box appears.
The formula appears in a white field inside the dialog box. Underlined expressions are calculations being processed in the next step. The italicized expression is the most recent result. The buttons at the bottom of the dialog box allows you to evaluate the formula in smaller calculations which you control. - Press with left mouse button on the "Evaluate" button located at the bottom of the dialog box to process the underlined expression.
- Repeat pressing the "Evaluate" button until you have seen all calculations step by step. This allows you to examine the formula in greater detail and hopefully find the culprit.
- Press "Close" button to dismiss the dialog box.
There is also another way to debug formulas using the function key F9. F9 is especially useful if you have a feeling that a specific part of the formula is the issue, this makes it faster than the "Evaluate Formula" tool since you don't need to go through all calculations to find the issue..
- Enter Edit mode: Double-press with left mouse button on the cell or press F2 to enter Edit mode for the formula.
- Select part of the formula: Highlight the specific part of the formula you want to evaluate. You can select and evaluate any part of the formula that could work as a standalone formula.
- Press F9: This will calculate and display the result of just that selected portion.
- Evaluate step-by-step: You can select and evaluate different parts of the formula to see intermediate results.
- Check for errors: This allows you to pinpoint which part of a complex formula may be causing an error.
The image above shows cell reference B6:D12 converted to hard-coded value using the F9 key. The DPRODUCT function requires non-error values which is not the case in this example. We have found what is wrong with the formula.
Tips!
- View actual values: Selecting a cell reference and pressing F9 will show the actual values in those cells.
- Exit safely: Press Esc to exit Edit mode without changing the formula. Don't press Enter, as that would replace the formula part with the calculated value.
- Full recalculation: Pressing F9 outside of Edit mode will recalculate all formulas in the workbook.
Remember to be careful not to accidentally overwrite parts of your formula when using F9. Always exit with Esc rather than Enter to preserve the original formula. However, if you make a mistake overwriting the formula it is not the end of the world. You can “undo” the action by pressing keyboard shortcut keys CTRL + z or pressing the “Undo” button
6.3 Other errors
Floating-point arithmetic may give inaccurate results in Excel - Article
Floating-point errors are usually very small, often beyond the 15th decimal place, and in most cases don't affect calculations significantly.
Functions in 'Database' category
The DPRODUCT function function is one of 11 functions in the 'Database' category.
How to comment
How to add a formula to your comment
<code>Insert your formula here.</code>
Convert less than and larger than signs
Use html character entities instead of less than and larger than signs.
< becomes < and > becomes >
How to add VBA code to your comment
[vb 1="vbnet" language=","]
Put your VBA code here.
[/vb]
How to add a picture to your comment:
Upload picture to postimage.org or imgur
Paste image link to your comment.
Contact Oscar
You can contact me through this contact form