Index-Match Look-up search criteria error - excel

I am attempting to use a Index-Match function to search my pivot table for the most current week. There is no issue when I type in the value as a string myself but I cannot reference a cell with that exact same value as the criteria for instance.
=Index(E:E, Match("3/7/2018 Total", A:A,0) this works as intended but I am attempting to automate this process.
Referencing a cell with =CONCATENATE(TEXT('Performance Summary'!B1,"m/dd/yyyy"), " Total") to create this same style in a cell does not work.
I have also attempted performing this function within the index-match function itself to no impact. Using a vlookup with this same function previously worked but ceased to function after a one time use (I suspect due to the fact that the table size changes daily, which messes it up even though i referenced the entire row range for the columns).
I am interested in any solution to solve this problem. Thanks.

You have one too many ds in the format. Also you can skip using Concatenate():
=INDEX(E:E,MATCH(TEXT('Performance Summary'!B1,"m/d/yyyy")&" Total",A:A,0))

Related

Can these formulas be simplified? Why does INDIRECT function seem to not work inside an ISBLANK test within a MATCH formula?

Summary
I need an array formula that takes a row of data of certain length from Sheet1. For that row, in each column that is not blank, I need to grab the Sheet1 header value for that column and display that data in a continuous row on Sheet2 (without any spaces in between the row's cells).
Background
I have a table of data (employees and industry certifications with expiration date being the table's cell data) on sheet 1, with a row for each employee the spreadsheet is tracking. The certifications are the columns.
We are using this information to link to ID Badge Printer software (Bodno Silver), where we are limited to linking columns of data to a particular textbox.
The problem lies in the fact that not everyone has every certification. The rows are peppered with blanks separating the certifications that each employee does have. While setting up the required text boxes in the badge software template, that each link to a specific column, I quickly realized that since not everyone has every certification if we used the data how it was we would have a bunch of strange looking blanks in between the listed certifications rather than a continuous list.
What I did
My solution to this (which I'm open to a better one if anyone knows of one, other than "use better software"), was to create a new sheet and array formulas that no one would use except for me and the id printer software. This sheet would have a similar data table that took the rows of data interspersed with blank cells between expiration dates, and put the matching column headers for cells that had a date in them into a continuous row of the same maximum length (eliminating the blank cells).
Essentially, this would allow me to circumvent the restrictions of the badge software and each textbox would be MatchedCert1, MatchedCert2, MatchedCert3, etc. up to the original maximum number of certifications.
Pictures are probably better than my words at explaining what I am going for:
Sheet1 (source)
Sheet2 (result)
The array formulas
I worked on this one for a while. What I thought would be a simple INDEX, MATCH, ISBLANK formula (that I could create using the appropriate relative and absolute cell linking) and then expand to the whole sheet turned into a witch hunt and me praying for forgiveness for my sins to all that may be holy. Also a lot of googling.... I realized quickly that this one may not be so simple after all.
Finally, I arrived at the following two array formulas in order to correctly show what I was going for:
First Column of training section
{=IFERROR(INDEX(Sheet1!$E$2:$P3,1,MATCH(FALSE,ISBLANK(Sheet1!E3:Q3),0)),"")}
(easy enough, right? I thought so...)
I felt good about this until I tried to think through what would be required to get the formula to be universal so that I could use it on the entire table.
I feel dirty just putting the following in public, but here goes...
Second column through last column array formula
{=IFNA(INDEX(INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW($E$2),(MATCH(E3,Sheet1!$2:$2,0)+1),1,1, "Sheet1")&":"&ADDRESS(ROW(E3),COLUMN($Q3),1)),1,MATCH(FALSE, ISBLANK(INDEX(INDIRECT("Sheet1!"&ADDRESS(ROW(E3),(MATCH(E3,Sheet1!$2:$2,0)+1),1)&":"&ADDRESS(ROW(E3),COLUMN($Q3),1)),0,0)), 0)),"")}
(please don't call the police...)
[ninja edit] While this array formula works for 2nd result column through the final column, it doesn't work if there's not a blank column following the result range. The actual spreadsheet has 4 different groups of certifications that run horizontally, but I was able to just add a blank column in the corresponding data from the other sheet easily enough, so I just let it go. I'd give somebody a nickle for the answer to why that's the case here too [/edit]
Results
The first array formula, and INDEX MATCH using ISBLANK is rather straightforward.
The biggest question for me here, and the thing that drove me absolutely nuts for a couple of days, is why the second array formula requires the additional INDEX function nested inside of the ISBLANK function.
While taking the function apart and experimenting I realized that if I have any INDIRECT reference inside a ISBLANK function, which is itself inside of a MATCH function, the result of the match was ALWAYS 1:
{=MATCH(FALSE,ISBLANK(INDIRECT("$E3:$Q3")), 0)}
The above ALWAYS returns 1, whereas if I put the range in explicitly, the function would work just fine. That wasn't an option for me, since I needed to dynamically return the starting position for the match using the previous cell's address.
However, adding an INDEX function (with a column and row value of 0) to encapsulate the INDIRECT function provides the correct answer. I figured this out just by trial and error.
Questions
Can someone with more knowledge please let me know what is causing this behavior?
As a broader question, given I am limited to using formulas (no VBA), I would also like to know if I'm going about this in the wrong way or if there is a much simpler way of accomplishing this without this behemoth of a formula?
I know this sheet will probably require maintenance in a year - good luck future self!
Put this in E3, Copy over and down
=IFERROR(INDEX(Sheet1!$2:$2,AGGREGATE(15,6,COLUMN(INDEX($E:$P,MATCH($C3,Sheet1!$C:$C,0),0))/(INDEX(Sheet1!$E:$P,MATCH($C3,Sheet1!$C:$C,0),0)<>""),COLUMN(A:A))),"")
As to why your formula is not working, it is too convoluted to parse. One note, unless the sheets is the variable, one should avoid INDIRECT as much as possible. INDEX can almost always be used in its place.
Both INDIRECT and ADDRESS are volatile functions. Volatile functions will re-calculate every time Excel re-calculates, leading to a lot of unnecessary computations.
Not a solution but to answer why you are seeing this behavior:
EDIT: PREVIOUS EXPLANATION WAS JUST PLAIN WRONG
This confused me so, I did a bit of investigation:
I think that your problem is actually coming from the ISBLANK function because it is intended to be used with single values, and cannot handle ranges. Any BLANKs which are returned by functions are only converted to numeric values (0), when the BLANK is returned to (or displayed on) the sheet. If the function is returning to another function, the BLANK value seems to be preserved.
EDIT: ADDING A SOLUTION WITHOUT ARRAY FORMULAS
This is probably more complex than using an array formula... but I strongly dislike them, so do all I can to remove them.
Firstly, I would add an index to your positions in the results sheet:
=IF(F$7>COUNTIFS($F3:$L3,"<>"),
"",
IF(
MINIFS(
$F$7:$L$7,$F$7:$L$7,
">" & IFNA(INDEX($F$7:$L$7,MATCH(E9,$F$2:$L$2,0)),0),
$F3:$L3,
"<>"
)=0,
"",
INDEX(
$F$2:$L$2,
MATCH(
MINIFS(
$F$7:$L$7,$F$7:$L$7,
">" & IFNA(INDEX($F$7:$L$7,MATCH(E9,$F$2:$L$2,0)),0),
$F3:$L3,
"<>"
),
$F$7:$L$7,
0
)
)
)
)
Basically, the formula looks at the cert in the previous cell, and looks for the next, minimum index, greater than that.

VLOOKUP and INDEX return #N/A when referencing another LOOKUP cell

I'm working on an Excel 2010 worksheet that uses a table that references a secondary table to generate a list of values.
More specifically, I have two tables: Table_Players and Table_ChallengeCalc. In Table_Players, I have the columns Players, Experience, and Level. I input the total number of points that a given player has under the experience table, and using this formula the level column tells me what level the player is:
Table_Players:
=LOOKUP(C6,
{-1;0;300;900;2700;6500;14000;23000;34000;48000;64000;85000;100000;120000;140000;165000;195000;225000;265000;305000;355000},{"0";"1";"2";"3";"4";"5";"6";"7";"8";"9";"10";"11";"12";"13";"14";"15";"16";"17";"18";"19";"20"})
Table_ChallengeCalc resides on a different sheet in the workbook, and references the Level value in Table_Players to pull a list of additional values from another table, Table_Difficulty.
Before I implemented the above lookup formula, I was just manually inputting the player's levels and in turn, the Table_ChallengeCalc was pulling the correct values for the remaining columns, using this to load the player's assigned level on Table_Players:
Table_ChallengeCalc:
=VLOOKUP([Players],Table_Players[Level],3,FALSE)
(Here's what it looks like when it works correctly):
However, as soon as I added the first LOOKUP value, the second VLOOKUP immediately became #N/A and in turn, so did all of the rest of the reference columns. If I remove the first lookup and manually enter the level again, the VLOOKUP immediately starts working again. I tried using a nested INDEX/MATCH statement, but it had the same results. As long as I'm using that first LOOKUP, Table_ChallengeCalc can't seem to pull the level value.
If I didn't know any better, it would seem to me that the workbook is trying to run the VLOOKUP simultaneously, if not immediately prior, the LOOKUP formula. Any ideas on how I can counter this, or is this one of those things where I've kind of hit the limitations of what an Excel workbook can do without additional software like VBA?
If I understand your issue correctly, then using the following formula should work for you:
=VLOOKUP([Players], Table_Players, 3, FALSE)
You currently have this in your table_array: Table_Players[Level], but your "[Level]" column is coming from the col_index_num: 3 in the formula, so you should not include this in your table array.

Excel Formula with OFFSET Fails When Copied to Different Sheet

I've been struggling with this longer than I care to admit, but I have a fairly simple OFFSET function call which works on one sheet, but if I copy it to a different sheet it gives a #VALUE error.
On a sheet named "Deliverable" I have this formula in a cell:
=OFFSET(Deliverable!$B$72,1,0,,3)
and it works fine.
If I go to any other sheet and use the same exact formula, or use it in the Name Manager, it gives a #VALUE error.
If I leave off the final parameter indicated the number of columns I want, it does work:
=OFFSET(Deliverable!$B$72,1,0)
but of course isn't giving me the range I need.
Any idea what's going on with this?
I'm using Excel 2016 on Windows 7.
-- Updated Info --
In a nutshell, my spreadsheet has two cells which I'm using as dropdown lists, where the 2nd cell's list feeds off the selection in the first. The data they are based on has this format:
OptionA A B C D
OptionB A B
OptionC D E F
So the first dropdown uses a simple Data Validation source pointing to the column with OptionA, OptionB, etc. Once that's chosen, the second dropdown list should contain the appropriate options for the one selected. So if OptionB is selected, then the 2nd dropdown list should show A and B.
When I initially wrote this, the data validation source was just a simple VLOOKUP entry, but the lists often had blanks since the number of options varies for each entry. Wanting to fix it up a bit, I ended up with this formula:
=OFFSET(Deliverable!B72,Deliverable!B87,0,1,COUNTA(OFFSET(Deliverable!B72,Deliverable!B87,0,1,5)))
There won't be any more than 5 options, and there are no empty cells in the middle of the data to filter out.
In one spreadsheet I have I used this as a named range definition, then specified the named range for the cells data validation source and it worked. In this other spreadsheet however, it gave me the error described earlier.
However, it looks like when I enter the statement directly into the data validation source field and not in the name manager, it works as expected.
Am I taking the totally wrong approach?
What is it that you want this formula to do? As written, it is returning a block of three horizontal cells. The #VALUE error is Excel's way of telling you "Hey, you're trying to return three cells, but I can't fit them all in the one cell that you are calling this formula from".
The reason you see a result in some places and not others is because of something called Implicit Intersection. Give it a spin on Google. But basically, it just returns whichever one of those three results corresponds to the column that the formula is entered into. If you copy that exact same formula to say row F you will see that it returns a #VALUE error there, because it doesn't know what cell it should return given the column you're calling it from doesn't match any of the cells it is returning. The fact that you don't know this indicates that the formula you're using doesn't in fact do what you think it does.
--UPDATE --
Okay, following your further clarificaiton it seems that you're talking about Cascading Dropdowns aka Dynamic Dropdowns. Lots of info on Google about how to set these up, but you may be interested in an approach I blogged about sometime back that not only provides this functionality, but also ensures that someone can't later on go and change the 'upstream' dropdown without first clearing the 'downstream' one should they want to make a change.
Note that those links talk about a slightly complicated method compared to others, but the method has it's advantages in that it also handles more levels than two, and your DV lists are easily maintained as they live in an Excel Table.
This sounds like an array equation. Try hitting Ctrl+Shift+Enter in the other sheets to validate it as an array equation.
Whenever you need to reference ranges instead of single cells, Excel needs to know that you are working with arrays.

AVERAGEIFS does not work, but AVERAGE(IF( does

We have a large spreadsheet that we use to calculate performance for race car drivers. It has been stable for quite some time. Today, I opened it and found that one of the tables was not calculating correctly. I tried recalculating the sheet (it is set to manual calc), and tried rebuilding the tree (ctl+alt+shift+f9) to no avail. Other formulas referencing the same named range function correctly as do other formulas using average if.
Variables
list_of_names = A list of first and last names in a single text string imported from a CSV file
local_name = A name (100% guaranteed to be included in list_of_names) to calculate an average of a drivers performance in a given sector of the track
sector_percent = A percentage of a driver's trips through a particular sector that fall into a pre-determined range
sector_count = The number of trips the driver makes though a sector
My original formula returns a #Value error. This is the original formula (the actual formula contains an IFERROR statement, but I have removed it here for clarity. The #VALUE error happens either way).
{=AVERAGEIFS(sector_percent,list_of_names,local_name,sector_percent,">0",sector_count,">"&min_number_sectors)}
After some experimenting, I have found that the following formula successfully reports the correct answer:
{=AVERAGE(IF(list_of_names=local_name,IF(sector_percent>0,IF(sector_count>min_number_sectors,sector_percent,0))))}
If you strip the list_of_names and local_name variables from the AVERAGEIFS formula, it behaves correctly (given the data that meets the criteria). This led me to believe that the list of names and the local name were not of a matching data type. However the #VALUE error still occurs if both are set to general or text. TYPE(list_of_names) or TYPE(local_name) both return 2 presently. {TYPE(list_of_names)} returns 64 as it should.
The sheet is able to perform the list_of_names to local_name function correctly in other places in the workbook and in other areas of the same sheet.
I have tried:
-Replacing all named ranges with the actual cells referred to by the name in the formula
-Referring to different local_names in the list_of_names
-INDEX(list_of_names,ROW(A1)) correctly reports the list of names when you drag it out.
-Various orders of criteria, using other criteria.
-A number of other heat of the moment changes that I can't currently recall
Essentially, the list_of_names to local_name comparison fails in this area of the sheet every time using AVERAGEIFS where AVERAGE(IF( does not.
To me the formula is correct either way, but the sudden failure in this one part of the sheet is odd.
This is my first post here and I would appreciate any help that is available. Hopefully, I have provided enough information to lead to an answer. If not, let me know and I will fill in any gaps.
Both #barryhoudini and #Jeeped are correct. I had failed to drag the information in one of the source tables far enough creating a size mismatch in the range sizes. I can't figure out how to accept that as an answer other than to answer it myself, which would not apply the proper credit where it is certainly due. I thank you both for the assistance, it was concise and excellent. I still cannot understand why one formula works and one does not. Is it possible that the AVERAGE(If has a less restrictive set of constraints when it comes to range size?

Excel Vlookup error

I have a spreadsheet that is stored in a shared location on a website that I need to do a Vlookup on in order to gather certain data. In order to test I have a Workbook stored in my documents. I have some VBA in this workbook but this does not affect the data in question.
The Formula that I am attempting is
=VLOOKUP("activated",$A4,4,TRUE)
What I need to do is to pull data from several columns in this sheet but I have not used Vlookup in a long time so I am trying to start small. I have formatted all of the cells to general but this has not helped.
I have also tried
=VLOOKUP("activated",$A2:$A71,4,TRUE)
However I constantly get the #REF error
Putting the following will return Activated so I know that in principal the formula is correct
=VLOOKUP("activated",$A2:$A71,1,TRUE)
I have looked at the answer submitted in Excel VLOOKUP #REF Error but this has not resulted in the correction of my errors
Any help would be greatly appreciated
The third argument is the column that you want to return... As there is only 1 column in the range $A2:$A71 you can't put 4 as the argument...
You probably need =VLOOKUP("activated",$A2:$D71,4,TRUE)
Also you should probably use FALSE for your last argument, as this can return the next closest match, if you use TRUE.
Range_lookup A logical value that specifies whether you want VLOOKUP to find an exact match or an approximate match:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/vlookup-HP005209335.aspx

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