If you work with euros and any of the currencies of the European countries that have adopted the euro, Microsoft Excel can help you convert between currencies. You can use Excel to set up a conversion table that lets you type amounts in one currency and then displays the converted amount in euros or another currency alongside. It's quick and easy with the EUROCONVERT worksheet function provided by Excel.

When you type an amount in French francs, Excel calculates and displays that amount as euros.

Set up a conversion table

1. Make sure the Euro Currency Tools add-in program is loaded: on the Tools menu, click Add-Ins, and then select the Euro Currency Tools check box.

   If Euro Currency Tools isn't listed in the Add-Ins dialog box, you'll need to install the add-in program. You can use the version of the Euro Currency Tools add-in program that's included with Excel 2000, or download an enhanced version of the add-in program from Microsoft Office Online. For information about installing Excel add-in programs, type install components in the Office Assistant or on the Answer Wizard tab in the Excel Help window, click Search, and then click Install individual features of Microsoft Office or Excel.

2. In one column, type the amounts you want to convert to another currency.
3. In another column, type a EUROCONVERT formula to convert the first amount. The formula has the following syntax:

   =EUROCONVERT (cell, "source currency", "destination currency")

   For the source and destination currency, use any of the following codes:

   Currency	Code
   Belgian franc	BEF
   Luxembourg franc	LUF
   Deutsche mark	DEM
   Spanish peseta	ESP
   French franc	FRF
   Irish pound	IEP
   Italian lira	ITL
   Netherlands guilder	NLG
   Austrian schilling	ATS
   Portuguese escudo	PTE
   Finnish markka	FIM
   Euro	EUR

   See the illustration above for an example that converts the value in cell C2 from French francs (code FRF) to euros (EUR).

4. Once you've entered a formula in the first cell, drag the fill handle to copy the formula to the rest of the cells in the column.

   

5. If your formulas are converting to euros, you can format the cells as euros by selecting them and clicking the Euro button on the Formatting toolbar.
6. Now you can type new amounts in the source cells, and see the converted amounts in the column where you entered the formulas.

For more information about the EUROCONVERT worksheet function, type euroconvert in the Office Assistant or on the Answer Wizard tab in the Excel Help window, and then click Search.