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//! # `NPer` Function
//!
//! Returns a Double specifying the number of periods for an annuity based on periodic, fixed payments and a fixed interest rate.
//!
//! ## Syntax
//!
//! ```vb
//! NPer(rate, pmt, pv, [fv], [type])
//! ```
//!
//! ## Parameters
//!
//! - **rate** (Required) - Double specifying interest rate per period. For example, if you get a car loan at an annual percentage rate (APR) of 10 percent and make monthly payments, the rate per period is 0.1/12, or 0.0083.
//! - **pmt** (Required) - Double specifying payment to be made each period. Payments usually contain principal and interest that doesn't change over the life of the annuity.
//! - **pv** (Required) - Double specifying present value, or value today, of a series of future payments or receipts. For example, when you borrow money to buy a car, the loan amount is the present value to the lender of the monthly car payments you will make.
//! - **fv** (Optional) - Variant specifying future value or cash balance you want after you've made the final payment. For example, the future value of a loan is $0 because that's its value after the final payment. However, if you want to save $50,000 over 18 years for your child's education, then $50,000 is the future value. If omitted, 0 is assumed.
//! - **type** (Optional) - Variant specifying when payments are due. Use 0 if payments are due at the end of the payment period, or use 1 if payments are due at the beginning of the period. If omitted, 0 is assumed.
//!
//! ## Return Value
//!
//! Returns a **Double** specifying the number of payment periods in an annuity.
//!
//! ## Remarks
//!
//! The `NPer` function calculates how many periods (usually months or years) it will take to pay off a loan or reach a savings goal, given a fixed payment amount and interest rate.
//!
//! ### Key Characteristics:
//! - Returns number of periods (can be fractional)
//! - Assumes constant payment amounts
//! - Assumes constant interest rate
//! - For loans, pv is positive (amount borrowed), pmt is negative (payment out)
//! - For investments, pv is negative (deposit), fv is positive (goal)
//! - Type parameter: 0 = end of period (default), 1 = beginning of period
//! - Rate must be expressed per period (annual rate / periods per year)
//! - Commonly used with PMT, PV, FV, and Rate functions
//!
//! ### Common Use Cases:
//! - Calculate loan payoff time
//! - Determine how long to reach savings goal
//! - Plan retirement savings duration
//! - Calculate time to pay off credit card debt
//! - Determine mortgage term needed
//! - Investment planning timelines
//! - Debt consolidation analysis
//! - Education savings planning
//!
//! ## Typical Uses
//!
//! 1. **Loan Payoff Time** - Calculate how many months to pay off a loan
//! 2. **Savings Goal Timeline** - Determine time to reach a savings target
//! 3. **Mortgage Planning** - Calculate term needed for specific payments
//! 4. **Credit Card Payoff** - Estimate months to pay off credit card balance
//! 5. **Investment Duration** - Calculate time to reach investment goal
//! 6. **Retirement Planning** - Determine years needed to save for retirement
//! 7. **Debt Analysis** - Compare payoff timelines for different payment amounts
//! 8. **What-If Scenarios** - Model different payment scenarios
//!
//! ## Basic Examples
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Example 1: How many months to pay off a $10,000 loan at 8% APR with $200/month payments?
//! Dim months As Double
//! months = NPer(0.08 / 12, -200, 10000)
//! ' Result: approximately 62.6 months (5.2 years)
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Example 2: How many years to save $50,000 with $300/month at 6% annual return?
//! Dim years As Double
//! years = NPer(0.06 / 12, -300, 0, 50000) / 12
//! ' Result: approximately 10.8 years
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Example 3: Time to pay off credit card with minimum payments
//! Dim balance As Double
//! Dim monthlyPayment As Double
//! Dim apr As Double
//! Dim payoffMonths As Double
//!
//! balance = 5000
//! monthlyPayment = -100
//! apr = 0.1899 ' 18.99% APR
//! payoffMonths = NPer(apr / 12, monthlyPayment, balance)
//! ' Result: approximately 79 months
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Example 4: Retirement savings timeline
//! Dim monthlyDeposit As Double
//! Dim retirementGoal As Double
//! Dim annualReturn As Double
//! Dim yearsNeeded As Double
//!
//! monthlyDeposit = -500
//! retirementGoal = 1000000
//! annualReturn = 0.07
//! yearsNeeded = NPer(annualReturn / 12, monthlyDeposit, 0, retirementGoal) / 12
//! ' Result: approximately 38.3 years
//! ```
//!
//! ## Common Patterns
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 1: Loan payoff calculator
//! Function CalculatePayoffMonths(loanAmount As Double, _
//! monthlyPayment As Double, _
//! apr As Double) As Double
//! Dim monthlyRate As Double
//! monthlyRate = apr / 12
//! CalculatePayoffMonths = NPer(monthlyRate, -monthlyPayment, loanAmount)
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 2: Savings goal timeline
//! Function YearsToReachGoal(monthlyDeposit As Double, _
//! currentBalance As Double, _
//! targetAmount As Double, _
//! annualReturn As Double) As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//! months = NPer(annualReturn / 12, -monthlyDeposit, -currentBalance, targetAmount)
//! YearsToReachGoal = months / 12
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 3: Compare payment scenarios
//! Sub ComparePaymentScenarios(balance As Double, apr As Double)
//! Dim payment As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//! Dim i As Integer
//!
//! For i = 1 To 5
//! payment = balance * 0.02 * i ' 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% of balance
//! months = NPer(apr / 12, -payment, balance)
//! Debug.Print "Payment: $" & Format(payment, "0.00") & _
//! " - Months: " & Format(months, "0.0")
//! Next i
//! End Sub
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 4: Interest rate impact on duration
//! Function CalculateRateImpact(loanAmount As Double, _
//! monthlyPayment As Double) As String
//! Dim result As String
//! Dim rate As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//!
//! result = "Interest Rate Impact:" & vbCrLf
//!
//! For rate = 0.03 To 0.15 Step 0.02
//! months = NPer(rate / 12, -monthlyPayment, loanAmount)
//! result = result & Format(rate * 100, "0.0") & "% APR: " & _
//! Format(months, "0.0") & " months" & vbCrLf
//! Next rate
//!
//! CalculateRateImpact = result
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 5: Minimum payment warning
//! Function IsMinimumPaymentTooLow(balance As Double, _
//! payment As Double, _
//! apr As Double) As Boolean
//! Dim months As Double
//! Dim maxYears As Double
//!
//! maxYears = 10
//! months = NPer(apr / 12, -payment, balance)
//!
//! IsMinimumPaymentTooLow = (months > maxYears * 12)
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 6: Early payoff calculation
//! Function MonthsSavedByExtraPayment(balance As Double, _
//! regularPayment As Double, _
//! extraPayment As Double, _
//! apr As Double) As Double
//! Dim regularMonths As Double
//! Dim acceleratedMonths As Double
//!
//! regularMonths = NPer(apr / 12, -regularPayment, balance)
//! acceleratedMonths = NPer(apr / 12, -(regularPayment + extraPayment), balance)
//!
//! MonthsSavedByExtraPayment = regularMonths - acceleratedMonths
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 7: Formatted duration display
//! Function FormatPayoffTime(months As Double) As String
//! Dim years As Long
//! Dim remainingMonths As Long
//!
//! years = Int(months / 12)
//! remainingMonths = Int(months Mod 12)
//!
//! If years > 0 Then
//! FormatPayoffTime = years & " year"
//! If years > 1 Then FormatPayoffTime = FormatPayoffTime & "s"
//! If remainingMonths > 0 Then
//! FormatPayoffTime = FormatPayoffTime & ", " & remainingMonths & " month"
//! If remainingMonths > 1 Then FormatPayoffTime = FormatPayoffTime & "s"
//! End If
//! Else
//! FormatPayoffTime = remainingMonths & " month"
//! If remainingMonths <> 1 Then FormatPayoffTime = FormatPayoffTime & "s"
//! End If
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 8: College savings timeline
//! Function CalculateCollegeSavingsTime(currentAge As Integer, _
//! currentSavings As Double, _
//! monthlyDeposit As Double, _
//! collegeGoal As Double, _
//! annualReturn As Double) As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//! Dim yearsUntilCollege As Integer
//!
//! months = NPer(annualReturn / 12, -monthlyDeposit, -currentSavings, collegeGoal)
//! yearsUntilCollege = 18 - currentAge
//!
//! CalculateCollegeSavingsTime = months / 12
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 9: Debt consolidation comparison
//! Function CompareConsolidation(debt1 As Double, rate1 As Double, pmt1 As Double, _
//! debt2 As Double, rate2 As Double, pmt2 As Double, _
//! consolidatedRate As Double) As String
//! Dim currentMonths As Double
//! Dim consolidatedMonths As Double
//! Dim totalDebt As Double
//! Dim totalPayment As Double
//! Dim result As String
//!
//! ' Calculate current payoff time
//! currentMonths = Application.Max( _
//! NPer(rate1 / 12, -pmt1, debt1), _
//! NPer(rate2 / 12, -pmt2, debt2))
//!
//! ' Calculate consolidated payoff time
//! totalDebt = debt1 + debt2
//! totalPayment = pmt1 + pmt2
//! consolidatedMonths = NPer(consolidatedRate / 12, -totalPayment, totalDebt)
//!
//! result = "Current: " & Format(currentMonths, "0.0") & " months" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Consolidated: " & Format(consolidatedMonths, "0.0") & " months" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Savings: " & Format(currentMonths - consolidatedMonths, "0.0") & " months"
//!
//! CompareConsolidation = result
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Pattern 10: Payment sufficiency check
//! Function IsPaymentSufficient(balance As Double, _
//! payment As Double, _
//! apr As Double) As Boolean
//! Dim monthlyInterest As Double
//!
//! ' Check if payment exceeds monthly interest
//! monthlyInterest = balance * (apr / 12)
//!
//! If payment <= monthlyInterest Then
//! IsPaymentSufficient = False ' Will never pay off
//! Else
//! On Error Resume Next
//! Dim periods As Double
//! periods = NPer(apr / 12, -payment, balance)
//! IsPaymentSufficient = (Err.Number = 0)
//! On Error GoTo 0
//! End If
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ## Advanced Usage
//!
//! ### Example 1: Loan Analyzer Class
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Class: LoanAnalyzer
//! ' Comprehensive loan analysis with payoff scenarios
//!
//! Option Explicit
//!
//! Private m_principal As Double
//! Private m_apr As Double
//! Private m_monthlyPayment As Double
//!
//! Public Sub Initialize(principal As Double, apr As Double, monthlyPayment As Double)
//! m_principal = principal
//! m_apr = apr
//! m_monthlyPayment = monthlyPayment
//! End Sub
//!
//! Public Function GetPayoffMonths() As Double
//! GetPayoffMonths = NPer(m_apr / 12, -m_monthlyPayment, m_principal)
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GetPayoffYears() As Double
//! GetPayoffYears = GetPayoffMonths() / 12
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GetTotalInterest() As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//! Dim totalPaid As Double
//!
//! months = GetPayoffMonths()
//! totalPaid = m_monthlyPayment * months
//! GetTotalInterest = totalPaid - m_principal
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GetPayoffDate() As Date
//! Dim months As Double
//! months = GetPayoffMonths()
//! GetPayoffDate = DateAdd("m", Int(months), Date)
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function AnalyzeExtraPayment(extraMonthly As Double) As String
//! Dim baseMonths As Double
//! Dim acceleratedMonths As Double
//! Dim monthsSaved As Double
//! Dim interestSaved As Double
//! Dim result As String
//!
//! baseMonths = NPer(m_apr / 12, -m_monthlyPayment, m_principal)
//! acceleratedMonths = NPer(m_apr / 12, -(m_monthlyPayment + extraMonthly), m_principal)
//!
//! monthsSaved = baseMonths - acceleratedMonths
//! interestSaved = (m_monthlyPayment * baseMonths - m_principal) - _
//! ((m_monthlyPayment + extraMonthly) * acceleratedMonths - m_principal)
//!
//! result = "Extra Payment Analysis:" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Extra payment: $" & Format(extraMonthly, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Time saved: " & Format(monthsSaved, "0.0") & " months" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Interest saved: $" & Format(interestSaved, "#,##0.00")
//!
//! AnalyzeExtraPayment = result
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GenerateAmortizationSummary() As String
//! Dim summary As String
//! Dim months As Double
//! Dim totalPaid As Double
//! Dim totalInterest As Double
//!
//! months = GetPayoffMonths()
//! totalPaid = m_monthlyPayment * months
//! totalInterest = totalPaid - m_principal
//!
//! summary = "Loan Amortization Summary" & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & String(50, "-") & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Principal: $" & Format(m_principal, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "APR: " & Format(m_apr * 100, "0.00") & "%" & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Monthly Payment: $" & Format(m_monthlyPayment, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Payoff Time: " & Format(months, "0.0") & " months (" & _
//! Format(months / 12, "0.0") & " years)" & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Total Paid: $" & Format(totalPaid, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Total Interest: $" & Format(totalInterest, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! summary = summary & "Payoff Date: " & Format(GetPayoffDate(), "mmm dd, yyyy")
//!
//! GenerateAmortizationSummary = summary
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ### Example 2: Retirement Planner Class
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Class: RetirementPlanner
//! ' Plans retirement savings timeline and scenarios
//!
//! Option Explicit
//!
//! Private m_currentAge As Integer
//! Private m_retirementAge As Integer
//! Private m_currentSavings As Double
//! Private m_monthlyContribution As Double
//! Private m_expectedReturn As Double
//! Private m_retirementGoal As Double
//!
//! Public Sub Initialize(currentAge As Integer, _
//! retirementAge As Integer, _
//! currentSavings As Double, _
//! monthlyContribution As Double, _
//! expectedReturn As Double, _
//! retirementGoal As Double)
//! m_currentAge = currentAge
//! m_retirementAge = retirementAge
//! m_currentSavings = currentSavings
//! m_monthlyContribution = monthlyContribution
//! m_expectedReturn = expectedReturn
//! m_retirementGoal = retirementGoal
//! End Sub
//!
//! Public Function GetYearsToGoal() As Double
//! Dim months As Double
//! months = NPer(m_expectedReturn / 12, -m_monthlyContribution, -m_currentSavings, m_retirementGoal)
//! GetYearsToGoal = months / 12
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function WillReachGoal() As Boolean
//! Dim yearsNeeded As Double
//! Dim yearsAvailable As Integer
//!
//! yearsNeeded = GetYearsToGoal()
//! yearsAvailable = m_retirementAge - m_currentAge
//!
//! WillReachGoal = (yearsNeeded <= yearsAvailable)
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GetRequiredMonthlyContribution() As Double
//! Dim monthsAvailable As Long
//! monthsAvailable = (m_retirementAge - m_currentAge) * 12
//!
//! GetRequiredMonthlyContribution = -PMT(m_expectedReturn / 12, _
//! monthsAvailable, _
//! -m_currentSavings, _
//! m_retirementGoal)
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GenerateScenarioAnalysis() As String
//! Dim result As String
//! Dim yearsNeeded As Double
//! Dim yearsAvailable As Integer
//! Dim shortfall As Double
//!
//! yearsNeeded = GetYearsToGoal()
//! yearsAvailable = m_retirementAge - m_currentAge
//!
//! result = "Retirement Scenario Analysis" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & String(50, "-") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Current Age: " & m_currentAge & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Retirement Age: " & m_retirementAge & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Years Available: " & yearsAvailable & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Current Savings: $" & Format(m_currentSavings, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Monthly Contribution: $" & Format(m_monthlyContribution, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Expected Return: " & Format(m_expectedReturn * 100, "0.00") & "%" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Retirement Goal: $" & Format(m_retirementGoal, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Years Needed: " & Format(yearsNeeded, "0.0") & vbCrLf
//!
//! If WillReachGoal() Then
//! result = result & "Status: On track! " & Format(yearsAvailable - yearsNeeded, "0.0") & _
//! " years ahead of schedule."
//! Else
//! shortfall = yearsNeeded - yearsAvailable
//! result = result & "Status: Behind schedule by " & Format(shortfall, "0.0") & " years." & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Required Monthly: $" & _
//! Format(GetRequiredMonthlyContribution(), "#,##0.00")
//! End If
//!
//! GenerateScenarioAnalysis = result
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ### Example 3: Debt Payoff Optimizer Module
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Module: DebtPayoffOptimizer
//! ' Optimizes debt payoff strategies
//!
//! Option Explicit
//!
//! Private Type DebtInfo
//! name As String
//! balance As Double
//! apr As Double
//! minimumPayment As Double
//! payoffMonths As Double
//! End Type
//!
//! Public Function AnalyzeSnowballMethod(debts() As DebtInfo, _
//! extraPayment As Double) As String
//! Dim i As Integer
//! Dim result As String
//! Dim totalMonths As Double
//!
//! ' Sort debts by balance (smallest first)
//! SortDebtsByBalance debts
//!
//! result = "Debt Snowball Method Analysis" & vbCrLf
//! result = result & String(60, "-") & vbCrLf
//!
//! totalMonths = 0
//!
//! For i = LBound(debts) To UBound(debts)
//! If i = LBound(debts) Then
//! debts(i).payoffMonths = NPer(debts(i).apr / 12, _
//! -(debts(i).minimumPayment + extraPayment), _
//! debts(i).balance)
//! Else
//! ' Add freed-up payment from previous debt
//! Dim availablePayment As Double
//! availablePayment = debts(i).minimumPayment + extraPayment
//!
//! For j = LBound(debts) To i - 1
//! availablePayment = availablePayment + debts(j).minimumPayment
//! Next j
//!
//! debts(i).payoffMonths = totalMonths + _
//! NPer(debts(i).apr / 12, -availablePayment, debts(i).balance)
//! End If
//!
//! totalMonths = debts(i).payoffMonths
//!
//! result = result & debts(i).name & ": " & _
//! Format(debts(i).payoffMonths, "0.0") & " months" & vbCrLf
//! Next i
//!
//! result = result & vbCrLf & "Total Time: " & Format(totalMonths, "0.0") & " months"
//!
//! AnalyzeSnowballMethod = result
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function AnalyzeAvalancheMethod(debts() As DebtInfo, _
//! extraPayment As Double) As String
//! ' Sort debts by APR (highest first)
//! SortDebtsByRate debts
//!
//! ' Use same logic as snowball but with different sort
//! AnalyzeAvalancheMethod = AnalyzeSnowballMethod(debts, extraPayment)
//! End Function
//!
//! Private Sub SortDebtsByBalance(debts() As DebtInfo)
//! ' Simple bubble sort
//! Dim i As Integer, j As Integer
//! Dim temp As DebtInfo
//!
//! For i = LBound(debts) To UBound(debts) - 1
//! For j = i + 1 To UBound(debts)
//! If debts(i).balance > debts(j).balance Then
//! temp = debts(i)
//! debts(i) = debts(j)
//! debts(j) = temp
//! End If
//! Next j
//! Next i
//! End Sub
//!
//! Private Sub SortDebtsByRate(debts() As DebtInfo)
//! ' Simple bubble sort
//! Dim i As Integer, j As Integer
//! Dim temp As DebtInfo
//!
//! For i = LBound(debts) To UBound(debts) - 1
//! For j = i + 1 To UBound(debts)
//! If debts(i).apr < debts(j).apr Then
//! temp = debts(i)
//! debts(i) = debts(j)
//! debts(j) = temp
//! End If
//! Next j
//! Next i
//! End Sub
//! ```
//!
//! ### Example 4: Financial Goal Tracker
//!
//! ```vb
//! ' Class: FinancialGoalTracker
//! ' Tracks progress toward multiple financial goals
//!
//! Option Explicit
//!
//! Private Type Goal
//! name As String
//! targetAmount As Double
//! currentAmount As Double
//! monthlyDeposit As Double
//! expectedReturn As Double
//! targetDate As Date
//! isOnTrack As Boolean
//! monthsNeeded As Double
//! End Type
//!
//! Private m_goals As Collection
//!
//! Private Sub Class_Initialize()
//! Set m_goals = New Collection
//! End Sub
//!
//! Public Sub AddGoal(name As String, _
//! targetAmount As Double, _
//! currentAmount As Double, _
//! monthlyDeposit As Double, _
//! expectedReturn As Double, _
//! targetDate As Date)
//! Dim goal As Goal
//!
//! goal.name = name
//! goal.targetAmount = targetAmount
//! goal.currentAmount = currentAmount
//! goal.monthlyDeposit = monthlyDeposit
//! goal.expectedReturn = expectedReturn
//! goal.targetDate = targetDate
//!
//! ' Calculate if on track
//! goal.monthsNeeded = NPer(expectedReturn / 12, -monthlyDeposit, -currentAmount, targetAmount)
//!
//! Dim monthsAvailable As Long
//! monthsAvailable = DateDiff("m", Date, targetDate)
//! goal.isOnTrack = (goal.monthsNeeded <= monthsAvailable)
//!
//! m_goals.Add goal, name
//! End Sub
//!
//! Public Function GetGoalStatus(goalName As String) As String
//! Dim goal As Goal
//! Dim monthsAvailable As Long
//! Dim result As String
//!
//! On Error Resume Next
//! goal = m_goals(goalName)
//!
//! If Err.Number <> 0 Then
//! GetGoalStatus = "Goal not found"
//! Exit Function
//! End If
//! On Error GoTo 0
//!
//! monthsAvailable = DateDiff("m", Date, goal.targetDate)
//!
//! result = "Goal: " & goal.name & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Target: $" & Format(goal.targetAmount, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Current: $" & Format(goal.currentAmount, "#,##0.00") & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Months Available: " & monthsAvailable & vbCrLf
//! result = result & "Months Needed: " & Format(goal.monthsNeeded, "0.0") & vbCrLf
//!
//! If goal.isOnTrack Then
//! result = result & "Status: On track!"
//! Else
//! Dim requiredMonthly As Double
//! requiredMonthly = -PMT(goal.expectedReturn / 12, monthsAvailable, _
//! -goal.currentAmount, goal.targetAmount)
//! result = result & "Status: Behind - Need $" & _
//! Format(requiredMonthly, "#,##0.00") & "/month"
//! End If
//!
//! GetGoalStatus = result
//! End Function
//!
//! Public Function GenerateAllGoalsReport() As String
//! Dim report As String
//! Dim goal As Goal
//! Dim i As Long
//!
//! report = "Financial Goals Progress Report" & vbCrLf
//! report = report & String(60, "=") & vbCrLf & vbCrLf
//!
//! For i = 1 To m_goals.Count
//! goal = m_goals(i)
//! report = report & GetGoalStatus(goal.name) & vbCrLf & vbCrLf
//! Next i
//!
//! GenerateAllGoalsReport = report
//! End Function
//! ```
//!
//! ## Error Handling
//!
//! ```vb
//! On Error Resume Next
//! Dim periods As Double
//! periods = NPer(rate, pmt, pv, fv, type)
//! If Err.Number <> 0 Then
//! MsgBox "Error calculating periods: " & Err.Description & vbCrLf & _
//! "This may occur if payment is too small to ever pay off the balance."
//! ' Payment must exceed interest to avoid infinite periods
//! End If
//! On Error GoTo 0
//! ```
//!
//! ## Performance Considerations
//!
//! - `NPer` uses iterative calculation - reasonably fast
//! - More complex than simple arithmetic operations
//! - For many calculations, consider caching results
//! - Typically completes in microseconds
//! - Performance similar to other financial functions (PMT, PV, FV)
//!
//! ## Best Practices
//!
//! 1. **Use consistent periods** - Match rate and payment periods (monthly, yearly, etc.)
//! 2. **Sign conventions** - Money out is negative, money in is positive
//! 3. **Validate inputs** - Check that payment exceeds interest charge
//! 4. **Handle errors** - Wrap in error handling for invalid scenarios
//! 5. **Round results** - Round to appropriate precision for display
//! 6. **Document assumptions** - State whether payments are start/end of period
//! 7. **Validate reasonableness** - Check that results make sense
//! 8. **Use with other functions** - Combine with PMT, PV, FV for analysis
//! 9. **Consider type parameter** - Specify payment timing when relevant
//! 10. **Format for users** - Convert to years/months for clarity
//!
//! ## Comparison with Related Functions
//!
//! | Function | Calculates | Given |
//! |----------|-----------|-------|
//! | **`NPer`** | Number of periods | Rate, payment, present value, future value |
//! | **PMT** | Payment amount | Rate, periods, present value, future value |
//! | **PV** | Present value | Rate, periods, payment, future value |
//! | **FV** | Future value | Rate, periods, payment, present value |
//! | **Rate** | Interest rate | Periods, payment, present value, future value |
//!
//! ## Platform Notes
//!
//! - Available in VBA (Excel, Access, Word, etc.)
//! - Available in VB6
//! - **Not available in `VBScript`**
//! - Uses iterative algorithm to solve
//! - Consistent with Excel's NPER function
//! - Part of VBA financial functions library
//!
//! ## Limitations
//!
//! - Assumes constant payment amounts
//! - Assumes constant interest rate
//! - Payment must exceed periodic interest or will fail/return error
//! - Does not account for fees, taxes, or insurance
//! - Cannot handle irregular payment schedules
//! - Type parameter limited to 0 or 1
//! - May return fractional periods
//!
//! ## Related Functions
//!
//! - **PMT** - Calculates payment amount for a loan
//! - **PV** - Calculates present value of an investment
//! - **FV** - Calculates future value of an investment
//! - **Rate** - Calculates interest rate per period
//! - **`IPmt`** - Calculates interest payment for a specific period
//! - **`PPmt`** - Calculates principal payment for a specific period
//!
//! ## VB6 Parser Notes
//!
//! `NPer` is parsed as a regular function call (`CallExpression`). This module exists primarily
//! for documentation purposes to provide comprehensive reference material for VB6 developers
//! working with financial calculations, loan analysis, investment planning, and time-value-of-money
//! operations.