Engineering Excel Functions

Complex numbers and engineering conversions

Unit and number conversion

  • Convert units → [CONVERT](/functions/convert/) (distance, weight, temperature, time, and more)
  • Decimal to binary/hex → [DEC2BIN](/functions/dec2bin/), [DEC2HEX](/functions/dec2hex/)
  • Any base → [BASE](/functions/base/) and [DECIMAL](/functions/decimal/)

Complex numbers

  • Create complex values → [COMPLEX](/functions/complex/)
  • Sum or multiply → [IMSUM](/functions/imsum/), [IMPRODUCT](/functions/improduct/)
  • Magnitude → [IMABS](/functions/imabs/)

Functions in this category

  • CONVERT: Converts a number from one measurement system to another.
  • BIN2DEC: Converts a binary number to decimal.
  • BIN2HEX: Converts a binary number to hexadecimal.
  • BIN2OCT: Converts a binary number to octal.
  • DEC2BIN: Converts a decimal number to binary.
  • DEC2HEX: Converts a decimal number to hexadecimal.
  • DEC2OCT: Converts a decimal number to octal.
  • HEX2BIN: Converts a hexadecimal number to binary.
  • HEX2DEC: Converts a hexadecimal number to decimal.
  • HEX2OCT: Converts a hexadecimal number to octal.
  • OCT2BIN: Converts an octal number to binary.
  • OCT2DEC: Converts an octal number to decimal.
  • OCT2HEX: Converts an octal number to hexadecimal.
  • COMPLEX: Converts real and imaginary coefficients into a complex number.
  • IMREAL: Returns the real coefficient of a complex number.
  • IMAGINARY: Returns the imaginary coefficient of a complex number.
  • IMABS: Returns the absolute value (modulus) of a complex number.
  • IMSUM: Returns the sum of complex numbers.
  • IMSUB: Returns the difference of two complex numbers.
  • IMPRODUCT: Returns the product of complex numbers.
  • IMDIV: Returns the quotient of two complex numbers.
  • DELTA: Tests whether two values are equal. Returns 1 if equal, 0 otherwise.
  • GESTEP: Tests whether a number is greater than or equal to a step value. Returns 1 if true, 0 otherwise.
  • BITAND: Returns a bitwise AND of two numbers.
  • BITOR: Returns a bitwise OR of two numbers.
  • BITXOR: Returns a bitwise XOR of two numbers.
  • BITLSHIFT: Returns a number shifted left by the specified number of bits.
  • BITRSHIFT: Returns a number shifted right by the specified number of bits.
  • ERF: Returns the error function integrated between lower_limit and upper_limit.
  • ERFC: Returns the complementary error function integrated between x and infinity.
  • IMCOS: Returns the cosine of a complex number.
  • IMSIN: Returns the sine of a complex number.
  • IMTAN: Returns the tangent of a complex number.
  • IMEXP: Returns the exponential of a complex number.
  • IMLN: Returns the natural logarithm of a complex number.
  • IMLOG10: Returns the base-10 logarithm of a complex number.
  • IMLOG2: Returns the base-2 logarithm of a complex number.
  • IMPOWER: Returns a complex number raised to an integer power.
  • IMSQRT: Returns the square root of a complex number.
  • IMARGUMENT: Returns the argument theta, an angle expressed in radians.
  • IMCONJUGATE: Returns the complex conjugate of a complex number.
  • BESSELJ: Returns the Bessel function Jn(x).
  • BESSELY: Returns the Bessel function Yn(x).
  • BESSELI: Returns the modified Bessel function In(x).
  • BESSELK: Returns the modified Bessel function Kn(x).
  • ERF.PRECISE: Returns the error function integrated between 0 and a supplied limit with higher precision.
  • ERFC.PRECISE: Returns the complementary error function integrated between x and infinity with higher precision.
  • IMCOSH: Returns the hyperbolic cosine of a complex number.
  • IMSINH: Returns the hyperbolic sine of a complex number.
  • IMCOT: Returns the cotangent of a complex number.
  • IMCSC: Returns the cosecant of a complex number.
  • IMCSCH: Returns the hyperbolic cosecant of a complex number.
  • IMSEC: Returns the secant of a complex number.
  • IMSECH: Returns the hyperbolic secant of a complex number.

Mastering Engineering functions end-to-end

  • Complex numbers and engineering conversions — use this category page as a map before diving into individual function syntax pages.
  • Functions indexed here: CONVERT, BIN2DEC, BIN2HEX, BIN2OCT, DEC2BIN, DEC2HEX, DEC2OCT, HEX2BIN, HEX2DEC, HEX2OCT, OCT2BIN, OCT2DEC and more.
  • Pick one function per week for your team, copy the examples into a practice workbook, and spot-check against manual math.
  • When functions in this category feed lookups or aggregates, read the related comparison and problem guides linked from function pages.
  • Small categories still matter in specialized models — document which niche functions your template depends on for auditors.
  • Confirm Excel version requirements: dynamic array and cube functions may not open in Excel 2019 even if other category members do.

Category troubleshooting patterns

  • #NAME? often means a niche function name typo or a locale mismatch — compare spelling to this English directory.
  • #VALUE! in specialized functions usually means wrong argument type — review each parameter description on the function page.
  • When results differ from documentation, verify regional settings, unit assumptions, and whether the workbook opened in compatibility mode.
  • Cross-link to fix-excel-formula-errors when multiple function types in this category fail after a bulk find-replace.

Function deep dives in this category

  • CONVERT (/functions/convert/): Converts a number from one measurement system to another. Syntax: =CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit).
  • BIN2DEC (/functions/bin2dec/): Converts a binary number to decimal. Syntax: =BIN2DEC(number).
  • BIN2HEX (/functions/bin2hex/): Converts a binary number to hexadecimal. Syntax: =BIN2HEX(number, [places]).
  • BIN2OCT (/functions/bin2oct/): Converts a binary number to octal. Syntax: =BIN2OCT(number, [places]).
  • DEC2BIN (/functions/dec2bin/): Converts a decimal number to binary. Syntax: =DEC2BIN(number, [places]).
  • DEC2HEX (/functions/dec2hex/): Converts a decimal number to hexadecimal. Syntax: =DEC2HEX(number, [places]).
  • DEC2OCT (/functions/dec2oct/): Converts a decimal number to octal. Syntax: =DEC2OCT(number, [places]).
  • HEX2BIN (/functions/hex2bin/): Converts a hexadecimal number to binary. Syntax: =HEX2BIN(number, [places]).