I have been trying and searching how to append two lists in excel to use in a formula. The lists do not exist in columns, they are created using a formula. I want to combine the two lists in a single one, not to show the values but to use the new list in a formula. I am using excel 365 (UNIQUE function). Let me replace my initial text by a real small case.
I have an excel file with 3 work sheets. Sheet1 is:
Sheet2 is:
Now I want to run some analysis in Sheet3. In my example I want to count how many unique values from column A have column B containing one of the letters 'a', 'b, 'c', or 'd'. For instance, in Sheet1, the letter 'a' appears in all rows. Column A has 3 unique values. So my result for 'a' is 3. The letter 'b' does not appear for the case where column A is '3'. Therefore the result for 'b' is '2'.
So I create a Sheet3 to show my results. The first column contains a list of letters {a, b, c, d}. I then use the formula:
=COUNT(UNIQUE(FILTER(Sheet1!$A$1:$A$100, ISNUMBER(SEARCH(A1, Sheet1!$B$1:$B$100)))))
From inside out: the SEARCH function looks in cells B1 to B100 (I can live with specifying a larger range) where is the position of the value specified in column A (of the current sheet). If it does, then SEARCH returns a number. I check if the return value is a number (ISNUMBER) and use this to filter values in column A of Sheet1. I then apply the UNIQUE function to these values and finally count them.
Then I do the same with values in Sheet2. And it works. This is the output:
Column B is the number of unique values (as specified above) from Sheet1 and Column C the same from Sheet2.
So far so good. But now I want to have the counting of unique values globally. Not for each Sheet. One cannot just add the values from column B and C, as there might be an overlap. For example, the result for 'a' should be 3, not 5.
The solution here would be to grab the two unique lists (one from Sheet1 and the other from Sheet2), join them, UNIQUE this new list, and count. How do I join them ? That is my question.
Note that this 'counting of unique values' is just an example. I might want to find the maximum, or sort them, or find only prime numbers, or the average, or the median, or something else. So I need a general approach to join the results.
I got options close to a workable thing when all the data is in the same worksheet.
Finally, note that the data size I have is not huge, but it is large (thousands of lines at the most).
Here is something you could try:
=LET(x,{"A","B","C"},y,{"D","E"},z,CHOOSE({1,2},x,y),cnt,MAX(COUNTA(x),COUNTA(y)),seq,SEQUENCE(cnt*2),final,INDEX(z,MOD(seq-1,cnt)+1,CEILING(seq/cnt,1)),FILTER(final,NOT(ISERROR(final))))
Here both 'x' and 'y' variables are placeholders for your two (vertical) arrays. In this case I used: {"A","B","C"} and {"D","E"}. Assuming you just want to place the 2nd array directly under the 1st one, the above suggestion does just that:
I'm trying to do something similar in vba which I have an idea of only in python for loops. Can someone teach me how to do this in vba, either in function or module macro please :
For each distinct values in column A4:A30, there should be no more than 9 distinct values in column C4:C30. If true, return 'OK' in cell A1. if false, return 'Error' in cell A1'
e.g As in the picture, Sam should not have more than 9 distinct fruits. Same goes to Mary
Update :
I have tried the filterxml method and unfortunately didn't seem work for me : [1] https://i.stack.imgur.com/cbmTs.png
Solution for excel with filter/unique formulas
Easiest way to achieve it in Excel365 is: add extra column which counts unique values (Fruits) for each Key (Names) and find maximum value in this column
Start with formula that find each non-blank which fits the key.
=FILTER($C$4:$C$30,($A$4:$A$30=A4)*($C$4:$C$30<>""))
Then delete duplicates:
=UNIQUE(FILTER($C$4:$C$30,($A$4:$A$30=A4)*($C$4:$C$30<>"")))
Then check how many cells we have in filtered data without blanks and duplicates:
=COUNTA(UNIQUE(FILTER($C$4:$C$30,($A$4:$A$30=A4)*($C$4:$C$30<>""))))
Then expand our new-column (column B in my case) formula to each row in our Keys.
And finally add formula to A1 which checks maximum counter:
=IF(MAX($B$4:$B$30)<10,"OK","Error - to many velues")
*There is a little typo, it should be "Error - to many values" =)
Below how the worksheet looks in my testfile
Solution for older versions of excel
I've checked if i am able to make it works without these formulas and it is possible:
We need to start with counting if there is for key-value above current row
=COUNTIFS($A$4:A4,A4,$C$4:C4,C4)
In case we have duplicates above, they should be already counted so we skip them:
=IF(COUNTIFS($A$4:A4,A4,$C$4:C4,C4)>1,"",1)
Now we have colum with "1" or blanks. In that case we need to count each non-empty cell above which correct key (name) and add 1 so instead "" and "1" we will have "" or 1, 2, 3, 4, ...
=IF(COUNTIFS($A$4:A4,A4,$C$4:C4,C4)>1,"",COUNTIFS($A$3:A3,A4,$F$3:F3,">0")+1)
Edit
I have added one extra IF to skip keys if value is blank:
=IF(C4="","",IF(COUNTIFS($A$4:A4,A4,$C$4:C4,C4)>1,"",COUNTIFS($A$3:A3,A4,$B$3:B3,">0")+1))
Cells Formula in A1 is the same
=IF(MAX($B$4:$B$30)<10,"OK","Error - to many values")
Quick Note:
Some formulas have range which starts on 3rd row instead of 4th; Its intended because we are counting cells above and at first row of data we need to have choose something above. This code assumes that you don't have numbers (on column B) or names (on column A) in row 3;
Below I am attaching screen with example; This screen have additional columns (D-F) which isn't required, its only do display how final formula was created.
This was taken and improved slightly from Question that has since been deleted
For those who can see deleted posts, it was taken from here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39793322/three-dimensional-lookup-no-concatenate-or-named-ranges-excel
I'm trying to do a three dimensional lookup without named ranges or concatenates. Simplified, my data is on the form:
Column1 Column2 Column3
Scott
P 1 2 3
M 4 5 6
N 7 8 9
George
P 10 11 12
M 13 14 15
N 16 17 18
I now want to search for a specific Name and then for a specific letter within that names table, I then want to match this row number with a specific column.
I tried a simple INDEX/MATCH:
=INDEX(A:D,MATCH("M",A:A,0),MATCH("Column1",1:1,0))
And that works for the fist name but not any others as it finds the first instance of M.
How do I modify it to look for a different name?
I have answered below, but want to see if someone has a better solution.
I used an IF() statement array formula to find what the P row number was after the George row... I also needed to use the MIN() function to get the first P row number after the name.
Beyond that, it's a simple INDEX() function.... that racked my brain for over an hour :).
=INDEX($A$1:$D$9,MIN(IF((ROW(A1:A9)>MATCH($F$4,A1:A9,0))*(A1:A9=$F$5),ROW(A1:A9),"")),MATCH($F$6,$A$1:$D$1,0))
Don't Forget!
Use Ctrl+Shift+Enter when finishing the formula, so it gets evaluated as an array formula.
You can use two other INDEX/MATCH's inside the first MATCH to set the lookup range. Then you simply need to add the MATCH() to find the absolute position of the name.
=INDEX(A:D,MATCH($H$4,INDEX(A:A,MATCH($H$3,A:A,0)):INDEX(A:A,MATCH($H$3,A:A,0)+4),0)+MATCH($H$3,A:A,0)-1,MATCH($H$5,$1:$1,0))
This one works better and does not have a size constraint:
=INDEX(A:D,MATCH(F4,INDEX(A:A,MATCH(F3,A:A,0)):A1040000,0)+MATCH(F3,A:A,0)-1,MATCH(F5,A1:D1,0))
You can do this just by adding the results of two matches together. One match for the names plus one match for the letter equals the total row.
=INDEX(A:D,MATCH(G5,A3:A5,0)+MATCH(G3,A:A,0),MATCH(G4,1:1,0))
In other words: Index(All of the Data, Match(Name, In name column, exact) + Match(Letter, In letter column, exact), Match(Column name, in Column row, exact)
Screen capture of working sheet
My answer attempts the general case with only one caveat:
That a letter is single character text, and a name is more than 1 character. Otherwise i feel there is no difference logically between letters and names, and it is then impossible to really do...
RE-EDIT for better function construction:
{=INDEX($A$1:$D$17, MATCH($H$3,$A1:$A17, 0)+MATCH($H$4, INDEX($A1:$A17, MATCH($H$3,$A1:$A17, 0)):INDEX($A:$A, SMALL(IFERROR(MATCH($H$3,$A1:$A17, 0)+POWER(SQRT(IF(LEN($A$1:$A$17)>1, ROW($A$1:$A$17), 0)-MATCH($H$3,$A$1:$A$17, 0)), 2)-1, ROWS($A$1:$A$17)), 2)), 0)-1, MATCH($H$5, $A$1:$D$1, 0))}
This uses an array formula along column A, and checks if the length is > 1 and throws the row nums into an array, with letters given a 0.
Then match row of unique name(e.g. George) is subtracted from each.
We then use a min(of all other name rows, with the last data row as the final default - SMALL function with 2 parameter) to find the next name row(or last data row if there is no following name).
Rest is standard index/match etc.
It will correctly return #N/A if there is no such letter under the chosen name...
My dataset is A1:A17, and the formula could use A:A instead each time, but the array calc inside the IF needs the A1:A17 for speed.
EDIT for better function construction:
If we wanted to avoid editing the formula when the data length changes, then we could let full column references of A:A go through the entire construction(and lose speed/efficiency) with the last data row in colA calculated via ROWS(A:A):
Re-edit:
{=INDEX($A:$D, MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)+MATCH($H$4, INDEX($A:$A, MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)):INDEX($A:$A, SMALL(IFERROR(MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)+POWER(SQRT(IF(LEN($A:$A)>1, ROW($A:$A), 0)-MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)), 2)-1, ROWS($A:$A)), 2)), 0)-1, MATCH($H$5,1:1, 0))}
It really depends on the setup...
Edit again for version which takes blanks as separators for names
If you want to use blanks as the separator for names, where no blanks are in the data results, but blanks appear in columns B to D where there is a name, then a tiny change in the above formulae will result in this:
=INDEX($A$1:$D$17, MATCH($H$3,$A$1:$A$17, 0)+MATCH($H$4, INDEX($A:$A, MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)):INDEX($A:$A, SMALL(IFERROR(MATCH($H$3,$A:$A, 0)+POWER(SQRT(IF($B$1:$B$17="", ROW($A$1:$A$17), 0)-MATCH($H$3,$A$1:$A$17, 0)), 2)-1, ROWS($A$1:$A$17)), 2)), 0)-1, MATCH($H$5, $A$1:$D$1, 0))
This means that the names and letters do not have to be any specified length, but just one proviso is that blanks appear in the row with the name.
A small amendment to the condition to find the end range to search for the letter by replacing this: SQRT(IF(LEN($A$1:$A$17)>1, with this:
SQRT(IF($B$1:$B$17="",
I would use the area (4th parameter) of Index(). Below is a screenshot of test data. This example assumes the same columns and keys are sorted and consistent.
This works by using (Range1,Range2) as the first parameter of index. For the 4th parameter of index, use N for which area in the () you want Index to return.
I think this may be slightly tidier, and a little easier to modify maybe.
=INDEX(OFFSET(INDIRECT("A"&MATCH($H$3,$A:$A,0),TRUE),0,0,4,4),MATCH($H$4,$A:$A,0),MATCH(H5,$1:$1,0))
Using offset to create the range first, we're able to use the name from H3 to set that up, and then beyond that we are just indexing within that new range.
Now this is still dependendent on staying in Column A for the names.
Assuming the format of the data is always Name then P, M and N this formula does the work:
=INDEX($A:$D,
MATCH($H$3,$A:$A,0)
+LOOKUP($H$4,{"P",1;"M",2;"N",3}),
MATCH($H$5,$1:$1,0))
This solution works on almost all conditions. One restriction I found is when one of the subjects (Names) does no have data for any of the details (letters), but as of now the same occurs with all the other answers.
The formula assumes the data is located at B6:F30 (in order to ensure it can be applied regardless of the source range location).
The formula uses the Index\Match functions:
First, a MATCH to retrieve the position of the Name:
MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0)
With that info it uses INDEX to build a range that is used to obtain the position of the Detail (letter) using a second MATCH Function:
+ MATCH($I8,INDEX($B$6:$B$30, 1 + MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0))
:INDEX($B$6:$B$30,ROWS($B$6:$B$30)),0),
Adding the results of the first and second MATCH functions obtains the position of the Name`Detail` combination and uses it in an Index to the entire data. The position of the Data Column required is obtained with a Match:
INDEX($B$6:$F$30, 1st.MATCH + 2nd.MATCH,
MATCH(J$6,$B$6:$F$6,0))
With the results located at G6:L30 enter this formula in J8 then copy to J8:L30:
= INDEX( $B$6:$F$30,
MATCH( $H8, $B$6:$B$30, 0)
+MATCH( $I8, INDEX( $B$6:$B$30 , 1 + MATCH( $H8, $B$6:$B$30 ,0))
: INDEX( $B$6:$B$30, ROWS($B$6:$B$30) ),0),
MATCH( J$6, $B$6:$F$6, 0)),"")
This solution works in all conditions discussed so far (let me know of any condition that it does not work and I’ll try to cover it).
I’m posting this as a separated answer as the formulas applied in prior answer rightly apply to the conditions stated in them, as such they will be useful to users with those specific scenarios, so they don’t need to apply these long formulas.
This formula assumes the data is located at B6:E30 (in order to ensure it can be applied regardless of the source range location).
This formula uses the Index\Match functions and it’s a Formula Array.
FormulaArrays are entered pressing [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Enter] simultaneously, you shall see { and } around the formula if entered correctly
Syntax:
=IFERROR(INDEX(DataRng,
MATCH(Value1,NamesRng,0)
+IFERROR(MATCH(Value2,INDEX(NamesRng,
1+MATCH(Value1,NamesRng,0))
:INDEX(NamesRng, IFERROR(MATCH(Value1,NamesRng,0)
+MATCH("#",IF((INDEX(Col1Rng,1+MATCH(Value1,NamesRng,0))
:INDEX(Col1Rng,ROWS(NamesRng)))="","#","!"),0),
ROWS(NamesRng))),0),NA()),MATCH(ValCol,DataHdr,0)),"")
Arguments:
Assuming the data is located at B6:E30.
Value1= Name to be found in Data, i.e. George, Scott, etc.
Value2= Detail to be found in Data, i.e. Detail1, Detalle2, etc.
ValCol = Column to be found in Data i.e. Column1, Column2, etc.
DataRng= $B$6:$E$30
DataHdr= $B$6:$E$6
NamesRng= $B$6:$B$30
Col1Rng= $C$6:$C$30
1st MATCH: Retrieves the position of the Name:
MATCH(Value1,NamesRng,0)
2nd MATCH: Retrieves the end position of the Name’s corresponding Details, which is determined by a blank value in column C or the end of the data range:
MATCH("#",IF((INDEX(Col1Rng, 1 + 1stMATCH)
:INDEX(Col1Rng,ROWS(NamesRng)))="","#","!"),0),
Builds a Range (vRange): With the Names's Details using the 1st and 2nd match functions. If 2nd Match returns an error then it uses the last row of the Data range:
INDEX(NamesRng, 1 + 1stMATCH )
:INDEX(NamesRng, IFERROR( 1stMATCH + 2ndMATCH, ROWS(NamesRng)))
3rd MATCH: Retrieves the position of the Detail within the vRange. It returns #NA if the combination is not present.
IFERROR(MATCH(Value2, vRange,0), NA())
Adding the results of the 1st and 3rd match functions obtains the Row index of the Name`Detailcombination or#NAif no found.
The Column index is obtained with a Match from the Header of the Data.
It then applying the INDEX function to the Data Range returns the value of theName\Detail\Columncombination.
If theName\Detail` combination is not found it returns blank.
=IFERROR( INDEX( DataRng, 1stMATCH + 3rdMATCH, MATCH(Column,DataHdr,0)),"")
With the results located at H6:L37 enter this Formula Array in J8 then copy to K8:L37 and to J9:L37:
=IFERROR( INDEX($B$6:$E$30,
MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0)
+IFERROR( MATCH($I8, INDEX($B$6:$B$30,
1+MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0))
:INDEX($B$6:$B$30, IFERROR(MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0)
+MATCH("#", IF((INDEX($C$6:$C$30,1+MATCH($H8,$B$6:$B$30,0))
:INDEX($C$6:$C$30,ROWS($B$6:$B$30)))="","#","!"),0),
ROWS($B$6:$B$30))),0),NA()),
MATCH(J$6,$B$6:$E$6,0)), "")
Wow... So many solutions already.
I think a simpler solution could be using offset to get a more generic answer.
=INDEX($A$1:$D$9, MATCH($G$3,OFFSET($A$1,MATCH($G$2,$A$1:$A$9,0),0,3,1),0)+MATCH($G$2,$A$1:$A$9,0), MATCH($G$4,$B$1:$D$1,0)+1)
The only variable to look for is 3 which is the number of M/N/P options present because that will affect the number of rows. Otherwise, the solution works fine in all possible scenarios and different orders.
When I have more than two inpunts for a data search I prefer to have the data organized as shown in the figure, so that I can use a pivot table and get it to organize the data in rows and columns as I like.
Then I use GETPIVOTDATA to search for a value.
Cell G9 contains this formula:
=GETPIVOTDATA("Value";$F$3;"Name";G15;"Letter";G16;"Column";G17)