How to Use the XIRR Function in WPS on Windows

This guide includes 3 how-to topics, all available without membership; choose a topic from the How-to Index and follow the steps to enter and review XIRR correctly.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enter XIRR through the Insert Function dialog

Entry path: Formula tab → Insert Function

1. Select the cell where you want to enter the formula.
2. Click the fx button in the formula bar, or click Insert Function on the Formula tab.
3. Search for XIRR in the Insert Function dialog.
4. Select the function and click OK.
5. Enter the values, dates, and optional guess arguments in the Function Arguments dialog.
6. Click OK to finish entering the function.

Success Criteria

• The selected cell now contains an XIRR formula.
• After the dialog closes, the result appears in the target cell.
• You can continue editing the arguments or copy the formula to other cells.

Tips While Using

• The values and dates ranges should have the same length.
• The cash flow data should include both positive and negative values.
• Use valid date values instead of plain text dates.

2. Type the formula directly in a cell

Entry path: Cell → Formula bar

1. Select the cell where you want to enter the formula.
2. Type =XIRR(...) directly in the cell or in the formula bar.
3. Press Enter to confirm.
4. If you need to revise the arguments, double-click the cell or edit the formula in the formula bar.

Success Criteria

• The cell shows a calculated result, and the formula bar keeps the full XIRR formula.
• After you press Enter, the formula is recognized as a formula instead of plain text.
• You can fill or copy the formula to other ranges.

Tips While Using

• Use commas as argument separators.
• If the result shows an error, check the amount range, date range, and argument order first.
• When copying the formula, confirm whether relative or absolute references are needed.

3. Review syntax and parameter details

Entry path: Formula tab → Insert Function

1. Click Insert Function on the Formula tab.
2. Search for XIRR.
3. Select the function and review the syntax XIRR(values, dates, [guess]).
4. Check the meaning and order of each argument.
5. Return to the worksheet when you are ready to enter or revise the formula.

Success Criteria

• You can see the XIRR function name, syntax structure, and argument order.
• You can distinguish required arguments from the optional argument.
• You can return to the worksheet and continue entering or correcting the formula.

Tips While Using

• Reviewing syntax is useful when you use the function for the first time or troubleshoot argument issues.
• If an existing result looks wrong, check whether the argument ranges match correctly.