ERF.PRECISE in ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor: Syntax, Examples and Troubleshooting
Evaluate the error function from zero to a single numeric x value in ONLYOFFICE with reproducible data, independently checked results, numerical limitations and official vendor references.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: =ERF.PRECISE(x) evaluates the error function from zero to a single numeric x value. For x = 1, the mathematical expected result is about 0.84270079295. It measures the signed area under a rescaled Gaussian kernel from zero to x. The syntax is verified in the official ONLYOFFICE function reference; the calculated values here are independently computed expectations, not results obtained by running ONLYOFFICE.
Purpose and what the function actually means
The underlying mathematical expression is
erf(x) = (2/sqrt(pi)) * integral from 0 to x of exp(-t^2) dt.
This mathematical expression explains what the documented function is intended to calculate. ONLYOFFICE’s function page describes an engineering function and labels the x parameter the lower integration limit; for the zero-to-x form, that label is a little unintuitive, but the explicitly described interval is authoritative. Do not treat a spreadsheet formula with two inputs as an undocumented variant.
Unlike ERF(lower_limit, [upper_limit]), this documented ERF.PRECISE(x) signature has one required argument and no optional upper bound. When ERF is called with only its lower-limit argument, the documentation says it integrates from zero to that argument. Neither statement establishes numerical equivalence of every historical build. Official ERF reference; official ERFC reference; documented counterpart.
Exact syntax, argument order, types and defaults
=ERF.PRECISE(x)
| Position | Official argument name | Required? | Documented role | Optional/default? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x |
Yes | Real numeric input specifying the lower limit named by the vendor; passed as a literal number, numeric cell or numeric formula. | No optional arguments or default documented. |
x is dimensionless in the underlying mathematical definition. Ordinary numeric literals and references are supported by the official function entry guide; the vendor’s short ERF.PRECISE reference does not provide a comprehensive text-to-number coercion table, infinity handling, maximum accepted numeric magnitude or exact error mapping. Those edge cases require native testing. In English-language vendor examples, use an initial = and commas when composing functions with more than one argument. This function itself takes only one argument.
Create the exact example worksheet
- Open a blank spreadsheet in ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor. Record whether you use Desktop Editors or a web/server-hosted Docs editor and note the actual build/version before reporting results. These guides have not executed either edition.
- Put
Casein A1,x (numeric)in B1,ERF.PRECISE formulain C1 andExpected result (mathematical)in D1. Type the x values in the table below into B2:B19 as genuine numeric cells (do not paste the quote characters around values or include unit labels). - Enter
=ERF.PRECISE(B2)into C2 and fill it down to C19. Cell references adjust row by row. Put the expected numbers from column D in D2:D19 as static numeric reference values; they are not native outputs. - In E1 enter
Absolute difference; in E2 enter=ABS(C2-D2)and fill through E19. In F1 enterPass tolerance; in F2 enter=E2<0.0000001and fill down. The F-column is a suggested native test protocol; do not assume the values have been observed to pass. For tiny expected tails, use an application-appropriate relative tolerance rather than a wide absolute cutoff. - Use the Formula tab’s Show Formulas when auditing the formula text, and its Calculation control or F9 to recalculate; the vendor instructions document those actions.
| Row | B: numeric x | D: expected ERF.PRECISE(x) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | -8 | -1 |
| 3 | -4 | -0.999999984583 |
| 4 | -3 | -0.999977909503 |
| 5 | -2 | -0.995322265019 |
| 6 | -1.5 | -0.966105146475 |
| 7 | -1 | -0.84270079295 |
| 8 | -0.5 | -0.520499877813 |
| 9 | -0.25 | -0.276326390168 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 0.25 | 0.276326390168 |
| 12 | 0.5 | 0.520499877813 |
| 13 | 1 | 0.84270079295 |
| 14 | 1.5 | 0.966105146475 |
| 15 | 2 | 0.995322265019 |
| 16 | 3 | 0.999977909503 |
| 17 | 4 | 0.999999984583 |
| 18 | 8 | 1 |
| 19 | 10 | 1 |
Expected values were computed from the mathematical definitions with SciPy and independently cross-checked against 65-digit mpmath; values are rounded for display. No ONLYOFFICE application was executed to produce the table. For the x=8 and x=10 rows, displayed zeros or ones can be misleading when the expected tail is extremely small.
Three quick working formulas
=ERF.PRECISE(0)
=ERF.PRECISE(0.5)
=ERF.PRECISE(-1)
The mathematical expected outputs are 0, about 0.520499877813, and about -0.842700792950 respectively. These formulas are directly usable as proposed examples in a compatible English-function installation; their exact displayed precision and error handling have not been native-tested.
Advanced use: independent checks and a useful application
Odd symmetry: the expected mathematical identity is erf(-x)=-erf(x). Put B2=0.5, B3=-0.5, then compare =ERF.PRECISE(B3) with =-ERF.PRECISE(B2); both should be approximately -0.520499877813. For the zero row, the mathematical answer is 0.
Interval integration using two precise calls: for lower and upper numeric endpoints in H2 and I2, =ERF.PRECISE(I2)-ERF.PRECISE(H2) mathematically integrates the same normalized Gaussian kernel over [H2,I2]. For 0.5 to 1 the expected value is approximately 0.322200915137. Compare with =ERF(H2,I2), whose two-argument meaning is documented; whether rounding agrees in your build still needs native testing.
Normal CDF: for a standard-normal z-score entered numerically in H2, place =0.5*(1+ERF.PRECISE(H2/SQRT(2))) in I2. With H2=1, independent mathematics gives a CDF of about 0.841344746069. With H2=-1, it is about 0.158655253931. This is a proposed composition of documented functions, not proof of native calculation.
Related verification formula: =0.5*(1+ERF.PRECISE(H2/SQRT(2))). This single-value expression combines the documented function with arithmetic and SQRT; do not confuse its mathematical expected result with a vendor screenshot or a guaranteed implementation across versions.
Numerical stability, errors and troubleshooting
At |x| as large as 8 or 10, erf(x) is very close to ±1. Exact returned decimals and whether values round to ±1 are implementation-specific; do not infer an ONLYOFFICE precision guarantee.
| Symptom, question or limit | What to check | Evidence status |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong function name or function not shown | Search the exact punctuated name ERF.PRECISE in Formula → Function. A similarly named unqualified function is not necessarily an alias. |
Vendor catalog documents this exact name; first-supported version unknown. |
| Too many inputs | The official signature has exactly one required argument. | Documented. |
| Argument stored as text | Enter 0.5 as numeric input, not '0.5', "0.5" or "0.5 units". Confirm cell type and region. |
Specific coercions and precise error code not documented; native verification required. |
| Unexpected sign or magnitude | Negative inputs give negative mathematical results; for finite real inputs the mathematical range is between -1 and 1. An output above 1 calls for checking the formula and input. | Mathematical range, not a measured native precision guarantee. |
| Huge/small x shows an apparently rounded result | Check underlying precision and compare to high-precision mathematical expectations. | Vendor does not publish a precision tolerance for this function. |
| Different commas or localized function spelling | Check Formula Language and Region in advanced settings; record installation and workbook settings. | Vendor settings document these controls, not a guaranteed locale translation for every language. |
| Stale value after changing inputs | Use Formula → Calculation to recalculate. Check formula dependencies and cell references. | Vendor guide documents recalculation. |
An error such as #VALUE!, #NUM! or #NAME? |
Inspect actual argument type, syntax and version. | These are possible diagnostics, not claimed native error outcomes for this function. |
Limits: The function help page does not explicitly establish coercion of logicals or date serials, extreme-value overflow/underflow thresholds, significant digits, treatment of infinities, or round-trip precision. Do not assume compatibility with Excel or another spreadsheet establishes ONLYOFFICE’s runtime behavior.
Desktop, web, versions and locale compatibility
The currently accessible English ONLYOFFICE Docs Spreadsheet Editor catalog lists ERF.PRECISE under Engineering, and the specific function page gives its signature. The Insert Function instructions explain manual formulas, function search, and F9 recalculation. Advanced Settings provides language/region controls. These URLs were reviewed on 2026-10-13 UTC.
Not established by this research: first-supported Docs release, first-supported Desktop Editors release, older versions, mobile editions, format-import/export behavior, localized names, exact separator substitution, native outputs or error codes. Separate vendor Docs release history and Desktop Editors history exist, but their mere existence does not prove support in each release. Web Docs and locally installed Desktop Editors must be tested independently. No browser, Desktop installation, native worksheet, screenshots or benchmark timings were used for this guide.
Related references and next functions
The precise family consists of ERF.PRECISE and ERFC.PRECISE. Compare ERF, which documents an optional upper integration bound, and ERFC, which is a complementary single-input function. Related mathematical tools include square roots and Gaussian cumulative probability transformations. The links lead to checked vendor documentation, not speculative live URLs on Spreadsheet-Tutorials.
Evidence ledger and validation disclosure — 2026-10-13 UTC
| Claim | Official or independent source | Check |
|---|---|---|
| ERF.PRECISE exists, classification, signature and argument role | ONLYOFFICE ERF.PRECISE | Official page checked 2026-10-13 UTC; no version number specified. |
| The distinction from ERF, ERFC and the other precise function | ERF, ERFC, counterpart | Official signatures checked 2026-10-13 UTC; numeric equivalence not claimed. |
| How to type, search and recalculate functions | ONLYOFFICE Insert Functions | Official guide checked 2026-10-13 UTC. |
| Language and region controls | ONLYOFFICE Advanced Settings | Official guide checked 2026-10-13 UTC. |
| Numeric example values, symmetry and distribution calculations | Independent SciPy special plus 65-digit mpmath |
Mathematical verification only; 18 worksheet input checks per function; native execution 0. |
| Historical edition/version support | Docs changelog and Desktop changelog | Release information is distinct; first-supported version unknown. |