I'm looking for a formula (without lambda function by preference) that could turn a static table to dynamic table.
For example, Column B contains raw data. I'm looking for a formula in D3, which contains B3 or e.g., B3:B1000 (to largely cover the area), such that it returns a dynamic array which is all the data below B3 until a blank cell. Then, in another cell, formulas like =D3# spill well.
Does anyone have a good idea?
=B3:INDEX(B:B,MATCH(1,(B:B="")*(ROW(B:B)>3),0)-1) works without sequence, so compatible for Excel prior to office 365. (To be entered with ctrl+shift+enter then) also this is non volatile (OFFSET recalculates at every change in sheet).
One possibility is to use INDEX, SEQUENCE, XMATCH, and ISBLANK.
=INDEX(B3:B1000,SEQUENCE(XMATCH(TRUE,ISBLANK(B3:B1000))-1))
Is this what you are looking for?
Formula in D3 is:
=OFFSET($B$2,1,0,MATCH(0,COUNTIFS(B$3:B$1000,B$3:B$1000),0)-1,1)
MATCH in combination with COUNTIFS is used to determine the position of the first blank cell
OFFSET delivers the rows from the beginning to the blank cell.
Related
With the special character '$' I can prevent an Excel formula from changing its reference when the cell itself is copied (e.g '$A$1').
But is there also a special character that prevents an Excel formula from changing its reference when the referenced cell is moved?
Here's an example:
I have:
Now I move the cells 'A1:A3' down one row. So the formulas in the cells 'C1:C3' change:
But I don't want that the formulas in the cells 'C1:C3' change. They should remain unchanged:
Try formula:
=IF(INDEX(A:A,ROW(1:1))=INDEX(B:B,ROW(1:1)),"Same","Not same")
the formula always work, regardless of any column been delete besides columns A or B
If you always want to refer to A1, then you can't just use A1 as a reference, because, as you have seen, Excel will adjust that reference if rows are inserted above.
Instead, use Index(A:A,1) . That will always return the value from the first row of column A.
=if(index(A:A,1)=index(B:B,1),"same","not")
Edit after comment: If this does not suit your purpose, maybe you need to redesign your spreadsheet so that the position of things does not change all the time. This looks like you are adding new data at the top of a list.
Excel works from top to bottom and things will be a lot easier if new data is added at the bottom of a list. You can always use other Excel tools to change the sort order if you want to have the data sorted in reverse chronological order.
Use formula in C1:
=IF(INDEX(A:A,ROW(ZZ1))=INDEX(B:B,ROW(ZZ1)),"Same","Not same")
and copy down.
I also need to get your help for the same issue. I need to copy the cell values and not the formulas automatically to the other Cell, "automatically" meaning, I don't need to click, use mouse, or any other means to do that, like once theres a value on that specific cell (which is derived from a formula), the value will automatically be copied and pasted in the other cell (without any intervention from my part) (Only the value is copied not the formula)
Note:
The cell should contain only the copied value and not the formula.
Scenario:
A1 Cell : has 250 value
B1 Cell : has a vlookup formula to search for the value of A1 cell (I need to use VLOOKUP as there's a lot of items in the list, and it is "Dynamic", the reason I cannot just use formula "=A1" to get the value directly)
C1 Cell : Needs to copy and paste only the plain value from B1 cell which is 250, not including the vlookup formula, it should be automatically copied without any intervention (Cannot use VBA code / Macro as it will be run in excel online)
Thanks!!
Just use abasic Excel formula.
Example:
The source data is in cell A1.
You want to copy the same value to cell B1.
In cell B1 write:
=A1
That is all.
Additionally, you need to configure correctly the strategy for calculating the formulas:
I managed to find a solution, sharing as might help someone in the future, just needed to use =value(A1), instead of just "=A1", when I did this, the chart can read the values as it is and not the formula behind it. Found another work around as well, by using the formula =A1+0, for some reason this works too. –
=value(A1) works perfectly , If that formula contains a % figure , simple We can multiply by 100 to get the correct value.
It's probably a simple problem, but I did not even know the keywords to google it ;/. Let's say I have this data :
Now I also have this litle formula:
If I know drag the C cell to the right, Excel will attempt the following caluclation:
=2+B1
What I want him to do is to attempt this calculation
=2+A2
Of course the easiest solution would be to store my initial data in one row instead of 1 column, but it is really inconvenient for me. Thanks for any help
You can use the indirect() method to reference a cell by it's "String identifier", i.e. "A3". When filling out to the right, use CONCATENATE() and COLUMN() to create your String identifiers {A1,A2,A3,A4,A5...} as required:
=2+INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A";COLUMN()-2))
This will result in the following:
Side-Node: If you want this for some x/y-Grid-Generation, you can also be lazy,
and just insert =COLUMN() for every cell from "A1 - Z1" and ROW() for every cell from "A2 - A24".
(Or even avoid these at all and directly perform your actual calculation by using column() and row() as replacement for your x/y.
You may try using a combination of the INDIRECT and COLUMN functions:
=2+INDIRECT("A"&(COLUMN()-2))
You would paste the above formula into cell C1, and then drag across to the right however many columns/rows you wanted to cover.
This would result in the following:
This works because COLUMN()-2 returns 1 for the C column, 2 for the D column, and so on. Therefore, the formula will be calling INDIRECT on A1, A2, etc. for column C, D, and so on.
In general, if you want relative references to move down as cells are dragged to the right, you can use this:
Instead of:
= 2+A1
Do:
= 2+INDEX($A:$A,COLUMN()+<offset>)
Where <offset> is whatever offset you need. The offset will change depending on which column the starting formula is located in.
INDEX should be preferred over INDIRECT because INDIRECT is volatile (must recalculate after any change to the workbook) but INDEX is not (only recalculated when one of the inputs the formula, in this case $A:$A, changes).
I have a spreadsheet that I'm importing data into. I need to find the value within a column that is closest to zero. The column contains both positive and negative values, and the value closest to zero will be used in another formula. I've found an answer using an array formula, but it will only work for a fixed range (e.g. K2:K10), and the number of records imported into my sheet will vary each time I use it.
Here's what I have so far:
=INDEX(K:K,MATCH(MIN(ABS(K:K)),ABS(K:K),0))
Is there a way to apply an array formula over an entire column and just include non-zero cells other than the column title? Or possibly just cells with numerical values? Or is it possible to control the range that it applies to?
We can dynamically find the last cell in the range by using another INDEX/MATCH formula that is not an array:
=INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K))
This will find the last cell that has a number in column K.
So we now use this as the last cell in the range:
=INDEX($K$2:INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)),MATCH(MIN(ABS($K$2:INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)))),ABS($K$2:INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K))),0))
And now the formula is dynamic.
This formula is still an array formula and must be confirmed with Ctrl-Shift-Enter when exiting edit mode. If done correctly then Excel will put{} around the formula.
If as you pointed out there is a chance of deleting row 2 then all the K2 references will also be deleted.
In place of K2 we can use INDEX(K:K,2) It will now always look at the second row and will not error when row 2 is erased. So use this instead:
=INDEX(INDEX(K:K,2):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)),MATCH(MIN(ABS(INDEX(K:K,2):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)))),ABS(INDEX(K:K,2):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K))),0))
There is nothing wrong with the Offset() function in small amounts, but it is a volatile function. Which means that it will calculate EVERY TIME excel calculate whether the data to which it is dependent has changed or not.
For the benefit of anyone reading this post, I ran into another issue and found a way around it. Scott Craner's answer above worked well until I ran a macro that I had for that sheet, which would delete certain rows. If row 2 got deleted, the formula would give a #REF error, because it was trying to call $K$2.
My solution was to replace $K$2 with
OFFSET(K1,1,0)
Therefore, the complete formula would be:
=INDEX(OFFSET(K1,1,0):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)),MATCH(MIN(ABS(OFFSET(K1,1,0):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K)))),ABS(OFFSET(K1,1,0):INDEX(K:K,MATCH(1E+99,K:K))),0))
And as Scott mentioned, remember to hit Ctrl-Shift-Enter to execute the array formula.
I am referencing a range of cells in a first sheet, to build a second sheet. Often I add rows in the middle of the first sheet. In the second sheet that is referencing the first, there is a skip in the cell number where I have added a row.
SHEET 1: Contains my main list, that is updated
A new row is added (A3) to SHEET 1:
SHEET 2: references Sheet 1 and pulls through the rows
However, you can see that where row 3 should contain the added row 'Rachael', it instead has shifted down to Sheet1!A4 and missed A3 out all together.
How can I fix this?
Try using this formula in sheet2:
(add it to Sheet2, A2, then copy it around.)
=offset(sheet1!$A$1,row(a2)-1,column(a2)-1,1,1)
Try to avoid formula volatilty, which means a formula recalculates on a change to the sheet even if its precedents have not changed.
Having numerous volatile formulas in a worksheet can cause performance issues.
Any formulas that utilize the OFFSET() function or the INDIRECT() function automatically become volatile. But of these two functions, INDIRECT is much worse than OFFSET. Both are volatile, but OFFSET is extremely fast, while INDIRECT is extremely slow.
DO NOT USE INDIRECT().
The best alternative is without question the INDEX() function. It is even faster than the OFFSET function and INDEX is not volatile.
So use the following formula in cell A2 of the 2nd sheet:
=INDEX(Sheet1!$1:$1048576,ROW(),COLUMN())
...and then copy as needed.
To directly answer your question - you can achieve this with the INDIRECT function. INDIRECT allows you to dynamically reference a cell through a formula, which doesn't necessarily follow Excel's "tracking" rules. Keep in mind that normally, Excel gives each cell a 'unique id', and when you initially reference any cell, the internal logic points to that specific 'unique id', and the visible reference points to the 'A1' style reference to that cell. This is done so you can insert rows and columns without unintentionally losing all of your references.
It is generally not a good idea to do what I'm about to show, because you lose the inherent benefit that direct references provide (in general: easier to maintain). However, to show you how it would work, see below [this assumes you want one header row, and that the column on your results sheet should match the column on your raw data sheet]:
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!R"&ROW()+1&"C"&COLUMN())