How can I expand a dynamic range with blanks between cells? - excel

I want to define a dynamic range that will expand the rows and columns of my range whenever a new row or column is inserted. My current formula does not want to expand to cell $T$13. My headers start in row $M$7. How can I adjust my formula?
Formula Being Used
=OFFSET(Sheet1!$M$8,0,0,COUNTA(Sheet1!$M:$M),COUNTA(Sheet1!$1:$1))
I need my range to expand to cell $T$13

Right now, your formula counts the number of text values in column M.
That is not a robust approach because column M contains only five text values, but columns S and T have many more values.
If you don't know which column may have the most number of entries, you can introduce a helper cell in each column that counts the number of entries below. I suggest you insert a new row 2. In column M, for example, put a formula in M2
=counta($M$3:M$99999)
Copy that formula across to column T.
Next you can evaluate which of the columns has the largest number
=max(M2:T2)
This can be plugged into your original formula like this:
=OFFSET(Sheet1!$M$8,0,0,max(M2:T2),COUNTA(Sheet1!$1:$1))
So now, instead of just looking at how many rows are in column M, the formula uses the maximum number of rows in the columns M to S.
You can now hide row 2 if it upsets your worksheet design.
Edit: the mere count of text values with CountA will ignore blank cells and will return incorrect results. You really need a formula to find the row number of the last populated cell in each column.
This should really be a new question, but here goes
If the column has number values you can use
=MATCH(99^99,B5:B999,1)
If the column has text values you can use
=MATCH("zzz",C5:C999,1)
Adjust your ranges accordingly.

I ended up using the solution mentioned by #tevlyn.
In range$M2:$T2
I have the follolwing formula =IFERROR(MATCH(99^99,M$8:M$999,1),0).
I've added IFERROR because my data doesn't always have data stretched to $T2.
I then defined my range in name manager using:
=OFFSET(Sheet3!$M$8,0,0,MAX(Sheet3!$M$2:$T$2),COUNTA(Sheet3!$1:$1))
This still works even if there are blanks in between the range.

Related

Is there a way to spill fill a column based on count of nonblank cells in adjacent column in Excel?

I am looking to find a way to fill a whole column with the same output, "Yes", based on the number of cells in the adjacent column.
For example, if there's data in A2:A10, I would like B2:B10 to be filled with "Yes". If more data is added to column A, I'd like column B to automatically update / spill the "Yes" into additional rows within B based on the number of entries added to column A.
I'm aware that I can do an =IF(ISBLANK()) statement for each row, but I am trying to reduce the number of formulas. I'd like to try and do this with a single formula within the top row of column B that spills down.
The value in column A can change, I'm only trying to check the number of non-blank values.
I'm using Excel / Office 365.
This is a generic solution for column A containing mixed datatypes:
=REPT("Yes",A2:INDEX(A:A,MAX(IFNA(MATCH(IF({0;1},"Ω",77^77),A:A),0)))<>"")

How to refer to multiple adjacent cells

I have a work sheet in which there are several cells with a specific entry - let's say "A". These are not all in the same rows/columns. After each cell is a date.
I need to count the number of cells containing "A" which also have a specific date in the cell immediately to its right. I've tried combinations of Countifs and Indirect, with no success. How can I achieve this?
This counts the number of times that there is A in column A and 1 in column B
=SUMPRODUCT(($A$1:$A$5="A")*($B$1:$B$5=1))
This outputs in cell D1
Not too difficult.
I have created a sample sheet with 8 rows and 5 columns of data.
See below, the formula in cell C12 counts the number of occurrences where the a cell with a date of October 31, 2017 is directly to the right of a cell that contains the text A.
If you want more info as to how this works, read on:
When searching for cells that contain A, you don't search in the last column of the data (in this case, column E) because it is impossible for a column to the right to have any date in it. This is why a portion of the formula says A1:D8="A" instead of A1:E8="A". This is the same reasoning why we start searching for a date in column B rather than column A in the formula.
You can achieve this with a helper row. Add additional row on top of your Worksheet. In cell "A1" enter formula below.
=COUNTIFS(A2:A2000,"A",B2:B2000,"YourDate")
Drag this formula to the rightmost of where you have data, then simply sum all values returned by formula.

Excel formula to pull data from last 5 rows of a cell range that has new rows added daily

As the title suggests, I have a worksheet (sheet1) that has lots of data that spans columns A-E and with rows that are added daily, What I want to do is on a separate worksheet (sheet2) show the data from the last 5 rows of sheet1.
Providing there is continuous data within column A on Sheet1, you could also use the INDIRECT() and COUNTA() functions.
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$"&COUNTA(Sheet1!$A:$A)-4)
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$"&COUNTA(Sheet1!$A:$A)-3)
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$"&COUNTA(Sheet1!$A:$A)-2)
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$"&COUNTA(Sheet1!$A:$A)-1)
=INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$"&COUNTA(Sheet1!$A:$A))
You would need to amend the column letter within the INDIRECT function for each column of data which you wish to view on Sheet2.
In an appropriate cell on Sheet2, use this formula,
=INDEX(Sheet1!A:A, MATCH(1E+99, Sheet1!$A:$A)-(ROW(1:1)-1))
Fill right for a total of 5 columns then fill those 5 cells down 5 rows.
That formula will find the last number in a column. This is often the case as the left-most column mat hold an ID number. The same reference point should be used to collect cell values from other columns to avoid the confusion that a rogue blank cell would create.
If all you have are text values then the formula in the first cell would be,
=INDEX(Sheet1!A:A, MATCH("žžž", Sheet1!$A:$A)-(ROW(1:1)-1))
Fill right and down as described above.

Excel: Find intersection of a row and a column

My question is how can I find an intersecting cell of a specific column and row number?
My situation is this: with some calculations I find two cells, lets say B6 and E1. I know that I need a row of the first one and a column of the second one. So I could just use ROW and COLUMN functions to get the numbers. After that, I need to find an intersecting cell. Which would be E6 in this example.
I would just use INDEX(A1:Z100;ROW;COLUMN) but I don't know the exact area that I'm going to need - it depends on other stuff. I could use something like A1:XFG65000 but that is way too lame. I could also use a combination of INDIRECT(ADDRESS()) but I'm pulling data from a closed workbook so INDIRECT will not work.
If this would help to know what is this all for - here's a concrete example:
I need to find limits of a section of a sheet that I would work with. I know that it starts from the column B and goes all the way down to the last non-empty cell in this column. This range ends with a last column that has any value in first row. So to define it - I need to find the intersection of this last column and the last row with values in B column.
I use this array formula to find the last column:
INDEX(1:1;MAX((1:1<>"")*(COLUMN(1:1))))
And this array formula to find the last row:
INDEX(B:B;MAX((B:B<>"")*(ROW(B:B)))
Last column results in E1 and last row results in B6. Now I need to define my range as B1:E6, how can I get E6 out of this all to put into the resulting formula? I've been thinking for a while now and not being and Excel expert - I couldn't come up with anything. So any help would really be appreciated. Thanks!
You can use an Index/Match combination and use the Match to find the relevant cell. Use one Match() for the row and one Match() for the column.
The index/match function to find the last cell in a sheet where
column B is the leftmost table column
row 1 is the topmost table row
data in column B and in row 1 can be a mix of text and numbers
there can be empty cells in column B and row 1
the last populated cell in column B marks the last row of the table
the last populated cell in row 1 marks the last column of the table
With these premises, the following will return correct results, used in a Sum() with A1 as the starting cell and Index to return the lower right cell of the range:
=SUM(A1:INDEX(1:1048576,MAX(IFERROR(MATCH(99^99,B:B,1),0),IFERROR(MATCH("zzzz",B:B,1),0)),MAX(IFERROR(MATCH(99^99,1:1,1),0),IFERROR(MATCH("zzzz",1:1,1),0))))
Since you seem to be on a system with the semicolon as the list delimiter, here is the formula with semicolons:
=SUM(A1:INDEX(1:1048576;MAX(IFERROR(MATCH(99^99;B:B;1);0);IFERROR(MATCH("zzzz";B:B;1);0));MAX(IFERROR(MATCH(99^99;1:1;1);0);IFERROR(MATCH("zzzz";1:1;1);0))))
Offset would seem to be the way to go
=OFFSET($A$1,ROW(CELL1)-1,COLUMN(CELL2)-1)
(The -1 is needed because we already have 1 column and 1 row in A1)
in your example, =OFFSET($A$1,ROW(B6)-1,COLUMN(E1)-1) would give the value in E6
There is also ADDRESSS if you want the location: =ADDRESS(ROW(B6),COLUMN(E1)) gives the answer $E$6
The following webpage has a much easier solution, and it seems to work.
https://trumpexcel.com/intersect-operator-in-excel/
For example, in a cell, type simply: =C:C 6:6. Be sure to include one space between the column designation and the row designation. The result in your cell will be the value of cell C6. Of course, you can use more limited ranges, such as =C2:C13 B5:D5 (as shown on the webpage).
As I was searching for the answer to the same basic question, it astounded me that there is no INTERSECT worksheet function in Excel. There is an INTERSECT feature in VBA (I think), but not a worksheet function.
Anyway, the simple spacing method shown above seems to work, at least in straightforward cases.

Count values in groups

I have a table with student IDs separated in groups. I need a handy way to count the total number of students in each group and populate it after the last row of each group (marked with ??)
Currently I just enter =COUNT() and then manually figure out the top and bottom borders of the range for each group. Not convenient at all.
I was thinking that a possible solution could be one of the following:
A some kind of pivot table permutation. I failed on this one.
Excel Data->Outline->Subtotals functions. Again, fail. It keeps creating new rows in my table.
A universal formula that can be pasted into each ?? cell. Not the most graceful solution, but still would do.
A macro. As a last remedy if nothing else works.
The following steps will calculate the subtotals while preserving the structuring and formatting of your worksheet.
Put this formula in cell C1 and copy the formula down the column:
=IF(NOT(ISERROR(SEARCH("Total",A1))),COUNTA(INDIRECT("B"&MATCH(LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-7),A:A,0)+1&".B"&(MATCH(A1,A:A,0)+1))),IF(B1="","",B1))
Apply a conditional format to cell C1 with the formula rule =(MOD(ROW(C1),2)=0) and blue fill to match the shading on the other rows. Copy the format down the column using Paste Special Format.
Either hide column B, or copy the values in column C to column B using Paste Special Values and hide Column C. If you decide to copy the values to column B, you won't need to set the conditional formats.
Here is what the formula does:
First, check whether the formula's row is a Total row, by searching the cell in column A of the row for the word "Total," using the SEARCH function.
If the word "Total" is found:
Determine the range in the worksheet of the student IDs for the group for that total row:
a) Identify the rows in which the words "GroupX" and "GroupX Total" are found by using the MATCH function. With that, you know that the IDs for the group are in a range that starts at, say, row x and ends at row y.
b) With the starting and ending row numbers, construct the address range in which the IDs lie, which has to be the string "B" + (row x) + "." + "B" + (row y).
c) Turn the string into a range reference that can actually used in a formula using the INDIRECT function.
Count the number of students in the group using the COUNTA function and the range, and show that as the formula's result.
If the word "Total" is not found
Check whether the cell in column B is empty
a) If it is empty, show a blank as the formula's result
b) if it is not empty, it must be a student ID, so show the ID as the formula's result.
Add a column (I usually add it to the LEFT of the existing matrix) where you enter a formula from row 2 onwards that fills the blanks in the old column A. Then the old matrix including your new column can be used in a pivot.
So Insert a column left of your matrix, this is column A now. Put a header in Cell A1, for example "Group Name1"
Enter the following formula in cell B2 and extend it to the end:
=IF(B2="",A1,B2) This way your blanks will be filled.
Now apply a pivot on this matrix and there you are.
Maybe not the nicest looking solution, but its quick and works well.
If u have table like this
Students id Name of students group ........
then u can use countif/countifs formula

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