Excel "IFS" function not usable

Question

I have Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 but cannot use the Excel "IFS" function.

I found that the following link says that :

"This feature is only available if you have an Office 365 subscription. If you are an Office 365 subscriber, make sure you have the latest version of Office. "

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/IFS-function-36329a26-37b2-467c-972b-4a39bd951d45

However Excel 2016 should be the quite the updated version, so what are some possible reasons this function cannot be usable ?

Answer 1

I've seen comment elsewhere from MS that new functions (not just these, but all new functions going forward) will only be added to O365.

Those of us that want to buy it once and only buy a new copy when we decide we want the next generation of features are no longer considered valued customers and will not get them no matter how much we might choose to spend on future versions.

Answer 2

Hi Lam_988,

Office professional Plus 2016 is an MSI installation which means your apps won't be updated when new features are released. If you made a one-time purchase, you will have the features that existed at the time that Office 2016 was initially available for purchase.  As an Office 365 subscriber, you’ll get the latest version of Excel and your version will continue to receive new feature updates.

Please read the comments by Steve Kraynak in this article for clarification:

 

Regards,

Neha

Answer 3

IFS is supported in build 16.6 and later in Office for Mac. I do not know whether or not a subscription is required, but I don't recall seeing anything that says you have to subscribe to get this update.

Answer 4

Thanks for the reply.

So if I not intend to scribe for Office 365, I should purchase the latest / forthcoming Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2017 in order to be able to use this function?

Answer 5

The IFS and similar new function are available only if you have Office 365 - just as you have stated.

best wishes