Excel Lambda Explorer

Excel Lambda Explorer

Excel Lambda Explorer is a FREE Excel Addin tool designed to make it easy to explore, understand and debug Excel Lambda Functions.

It is designed as a companion product for the Advanced Formula Environment addin, and integrates with the Name Manager Plus addin from Jan Karel Pieterse.

Watch this short video for an introduction to Lambda Explorer

Lambda Explorer Demo

Click the purple nodes to expand a Named Lambda to its formula, or click the light green nodes to contract an expanded Named Lambda

  • Explore Lambda formulas from worksheet Cells.
    • See the evaluated results for most components of the formula.
    • Dynamically expand and contract Named Lambdas.
    • Clickable Indented formula View.
    • Tree View of each component of the formula.
    • Scroll and Filter array results in the resizeable Results Box.
  • Step-by-Step Formula debug.
    • Step forward and backwards using the right and left arrow keys.
    • See and explore intermediate array results.
  • Explore formulas using your Excel language and settings.
  • Use Lambda Explorer alongside the Advanced Formula Environment addin.
  • Modeless resizable form allows easy selection of worksheet formulas.
  • Extensive settings to control text size and options.
  • Download FastExcel Lambda Explorer for Windows or Mac.
  • Latest build is 764.701:
  • Recent changes include:
    • Integration with JKP Name Manager addin Analyse button (Build 694 or later)
    • Performance improvements
    • Mac version available
    • Miscellaneous bug fixes.
    • Online Help now available.
    • Improved handling of Form position reset
    • Shows #Expand? when expanding a Lambda could resolve intermediate result errors.
    • Improved scrolling in Stepped Debug mode.
    • Improved selection in Stepped Debug mode

Installing Lambda Explorer

The downloaded file is a code-signed XLAM addin file.
Copy the XLAM file from your Downloads folder to a folder of your choice.

Unblock the XLAM file (right-click the file, choose the Properties Tab and Unblock).

Adding the XLAM to Excel

Use the Excel Addin Manager to install or uninstall Lambda Explorer.
Or for single-session use just use Excel to open the XLAM file.

  • Click the File Tab
  • Select Options
  • Click Addins
  • Select Excel Addins in the dropdown
  • Click Go
  • Click Browse and locate the LambdaExplorer.xlam file
  • Click OK
  • Make sure that the Lambda Explorer Addin is checked
  • Click OK to return to Excel

When successfully installed in Excel you should see this Lambda Explorer Tab


If the Lambda Explorer Tab is not visible make the Lambda Explorer Folder a Trusted Location

  • Click the File Tab
  • Select Options
  • Select Trust Center
  • Click Trust Center Settings
  • Select Trusted Locations
  • Click Add New Location
  • Browse to the Folder where you stored the LambdaExplorer File
  • Click OK to return to Excel
  • Then close and restart Excel

Support, feedback and improvement suggestions

Use the FastExcel V4 Google Group to report problems and request improvements

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