I have a cell range that I named "cell_range" in Excel. I want to extract the fourth row and fifth column from this table. The formula,
=vlookup(4,cell_range,5)
gives me the value I am looking for.
However, I also have the text "cell_range" in cell A1. Instead of typing out "cell_range" in my formula, I want to reference "cell_range" indirectly by referencing cell A1. The formula
vlookup(4,A1,5)
is giving me a "#N/A" error.
How can I indirectly reference the table "cell_range" in my formula?
Use INDIRECT:
=VLOOKUP(4,INDIRECT(A1),5)
While you can use INDIRECT to perform this kind of stuff, I steer clear of it for reasons I've outlined at https://chandoo.org/wp/2014/03/03/handle-volatile-functions-like-they-are-dynamite/
In this particular case I'd use a lookup table and either CHOOSE or INDEX, as demonstrated in the screenshot below:
Note that you need to pre-specify your areas with my approach.
Here's the syntax for CHOOSE
=CHOOSE(index_num,value1,value2,...)
Here’s the translation from Microsoft-speak into Jeff-speak:
=CHOOSE(Which area do you want?, First area, Second area, ...)
If using a dropdown or a cell reference to provide the index_num argument, you simply use a lookup table that converts the output of the dropdown or cell input into an index number that tells CHOOSE which range from the list should be used.
In this example, you’re using this approach to choose which area on the spreadsheet to sum. But CHOOSE and INDEX can be used to do a lot more than that. For instance, you could use them to allow a user to dynamically pick which lookup table to use when doing a VLOOKUP. Or you could let the user dynamically pick which range in which sheet to user for some calculations do. Very powerful stuff indeed!
Related
I am trying to reference a column in an external Excel document in my formula, and then expanding said formula to the right to auto-fill the remaining cells. I have some values in the formula that I want to not auto-increment, which have been locked using absolute references ($), and others that should increment. But when it comes to the references to the external worksheet columns, those increment even though it makes no sense for them to do so.
Consider this formula as an example, with A1 through A* being a series of dates:
=COUNTIFS(external_sheet[date]; ">="&A1; external_sheet[status]; "ACTIVE";)
If I were to expand this formula to the right, it will increment [date] and [status] to the next column in the sheet. I do not want this behavior, but as far as I can tell there is no way to lock down these values as you can with absolute references. I tried adding a $ symbol before the external sheet reference, but that just breaks the formula.
An option would be to do external_worksheet!$A:$A instead, but for my use case it would make more sense to use references to named columns, as the order of columns may change between data files.
Figured it out after some more Googling (and learning that this is called a "structured reference"). Apparently, the syntax is this:
=COUNTIFS(external_sheet[[date]:[date]]; ">="&A1)
This will make sure that date does not increment to the next column name when filling to the right.
Thanks, I hate it.
I am using excel to create data sets that are used in a vba application later. I am using this formula:
=INDEX(BaseData!$L$2:$L$10000;MATCH(DataSet!D5&DataSet!E5&DataSet!K5;INDEX(BaseData!$B$2:$B$10000&BaseData!$C$2:$C$10000&BaseData!$D$2:$D$10000;0);0))
usually with a range from f.ex.: A2 - A10000, because my data can be differently long and often vary in data selection.
However, this slows my excel extremely down. I switched to manual calculations, but then, when activating automatic again, my excel instance takes extremely long and often crashes.
I also tried to past some data, but when creating a new dataset, I have to pull the formula down again and sometimes through this errors occur in my data set.
Any suggestions what I can do to make the INDEX-MATCH formulas more performant?
I appreciate your replies!
UPDATE
I guess a lot of performance goes away because index-match does not select the exact range, but also counts in blank rows. How to get the exactl range with index match automatically?
As I mention in my comment above, as long as this is a 'regular' formula and not an Array Formula, you may find success simply replacing "A1:A10000" with "A:A". However barring that, you can create a cell which will calculate reference the number of rows of data which you have, and then use that cell to indirectly reference the complete column with data in it.
CALCULATING YOUR DESIRED RANGE
For the following example to work, I assume that: Column A includes an index key in the form of numbers only; Column A includes no numbers in the header and above; and that the index rows are continuous, with no breaks. Start with the following formula:
=COUNT(A:A)
If my assumptions above hold, then this will return the number of data elements in your table. Once we know where this data starts, we can use this COUNT to determine where it ends. Assume your header is in row 2. (I like to include the header so that if you insert a row beneath the header, Excel picks up that you want to include the new row in your formulas).With that in mind, this formula will create the Excel-style reference which finds the last cell in column A which has data in it:
=ADDRESS(ROW(A2)+1+COUNT(A:A),COLUMN(A2),1,1)
Assuming 50 rows of data [which start at row 3, below the header], and all other assumptions above, this formula will return the text result "$A$53".
If you wanted to do the same thing, but instead return the full range in Column A where data exists (from the header to row 53), you could do as follows:
=ADDRESS(ROW(A2),COLUMN(A2),1,1)&":"&ADDRESS(ROW(A2)+1+COUNT(A:A),COLUMN(A2),1,1)
This returns the text string result "$A$2:$A$53", which is a reference to the full index of unique ID values. It will automatically move around as you would generally expect if you insert any rows or columns. Now assume for your INDEX that you want to pull the same data, but for column B, instead. The formula will be exactly the same, except that where I have "COLUMN(A2)" above, replace with "COLUMN(B2)".
REFERENCING YOUR CALCULATED RANGE
So now you have the address of your proper, limited columns - but how do you actually reference those areas in a formula? By using the INDIRECT function. INDIRECT says "Evaluate some specific criteria. It will create a cell reference. Now look at that cell reference." In its simplest form, this could look like this:
=INDIRECT(A1)
Assume that A1 holds the value "B5". Indirect will pick up the value "B5", and instead of displaying "B5", it will go to B5, and pick up the value there. So to use this with the above, wrap the whole thing in the INDIRECT function. Instead of picking up the text string "$A$1:$A$53", it will actually now reference that range properly. Like so:
=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW(A2),COLUMN(A2),1,1)&":"&ADDRESS(ROW(A2)+1+COUNT(A:A),COLUMN(A2),1,1))
USING A NAMED RANGE
But that is a very long formula to have, and you won't want to use it within a specific cell for a simple INDEX/MATCH. Instead of entering these formulas in cells (although you could), I recommend you go to the Formula Ribbon -> Name Manager -> New Name. Call the name for the index of A "ID_COLUMN". Call the name for the index of "B_COLUMN" (or something more specific).
FINAL FORMULA
Now, if you wanted to make an INDEX/MATCH of your table, which automatically grows/shrinks as you change the data, your formula would look like this [this would, for example, pick the row from column B where column A has the number 100]:
=INDEX(ID_COLUMN,MATCH(100, B_COLUMN, 0))
What I'm wanting to do is have a formula in one cell that counts the values in a range that conform to a lookup of that range cell's value compared to another cell.
OMG, now that I look at it, that is totally confusing. Let me try to clarify a lot here.
Say we have Cell1, which will hold the counting formula. I have a list of values in a two-column table, Table1. The range, Range1 that Cell1 will be counting from is a range of cells that have List Validation in them. Table1 holds references to all values that can result from those Lists, in column 1. I have another cell, Cell2, which holds a number value. Column 2 of Table1 holds values that reference Cell2. I need to count the number of values from Range1 whose row matches in Table12 match the value in Cell2. Is there a way I can do this with COUNTIF without referencing each cell individually? Is there some shorthand (like Range.currentValue) that I can use to get the value of the cell currently being checked? The range is 11 rows long, and I need to do a second range that has 12 rows counted.
Man, I really don't know how to clarify that any more... I'll post this for now, in case anyone can understand what I'm saying and knows the answer, while I work on a sample spreadsheet I can upload.
I did my best to visually represent what I'm trying to accomplish:
http://gyazo.com/b83295baf3b156683a5c39b40c806504
Extended explanation: http://gyazo.com/4048802050e3dcfca7aee238acc2f7dd
Use a helper column, say, between the brown and the first blue or at the right of the setup. Use a vlookup like
=vlookup(brownvalue,BluetableRange,2,false)
Then do a countif on the helper column
=countif(HelperColumn,"<="&GreenCellAddress)
You can hide the column with the helper if it upsets your spreadsheet design.
You can (and probably should) use a helper column as Teylyn suggests. But, for when that may be inconvenient, you can also use an array formula:
=SUM(COUNTIFS(listlookupcolumn,rangeoflists,numbervaluecolumn,"<="&numbertomatch))
To enter it as an array formula, type "ctrl-shift-enter" after editing the formula, rather than just "enter"
Rough explanation: since rangeoflists is in a place where a single value is expected, the countifs is calculated once for each value, and the array of results is passed to sum. Use the "evaluate formula" feature to see the intermediate result array.
Afterthought: It occurs to me now that this does rely on listlookupcolumn containing unique values. (Almost certainly true in this example.) You can modify the formula a bit to get around this:
=SUM(SIGN(COUNTIFS(listlookupcolumn,rangeoflists,numbervaluecolumn,"<="&numbertomatch)))
The SIGN function will keep you from double counting.
Again, you must use "ctrl-shift-enter" for this to work. (Yes, as I'm sure others are ready to point out, you can also use the sumproduct hack in this instance.)
I have the names of the tabs/worksheets (M-61,M-62,M-63W) at the top row (A1, B1, C1...etc)
I am trying to get a sum of several cells within the different sheets:
=SUM('M-60'!H21,'M-60'!H43,'M-60'!H86,'M-60'!H87,'M-60'!H97,'M-60'!H98)
However, right now I’m referring to the sheet itself, and have to apply the same formula to all the other sheets. This will require me to manually go and change all the sheet titles accordingly.
I was wondering if there is any way to reference the top row with the sheet titles within the formula so it automatically refers to the row text instead of me having to manually change the sheet title.
Edit
Now i got the reference to work, just wondering how would I do a sum of several cells in that tab
=INDIRECT("'"&$F1&"'!H87",TRUE)
Maybe:
=SUM(INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H21"),INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H43"),INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H86:H87"),INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H97:H98"))
(though there may well be a much smarter way).
You can use the INDIRECT function, which uses a string as an argument and converts it to a range. So
=M-60'!H21
is the same as
=INDIRECT("M-60'!H21")
or, if Sheet name is stored in, say, cell C1:
=INDIRECT(C1&"'!H21")
Your example has a SUM, though, which requires some adaptations. This your example:
=SUM('M-60'!H21,'M-60'!H43,'M-60'!H86,'M-60'!H87,'M-60'!H97,'M-60'!H98)
Since you are not using a range, you can convert that SUM into simple addition. Assuming Sheet name in cell C1
=INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H21")+INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H43")+INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H86")+INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H87")+INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H97")+INDIRECT("'"&C1&"'!H98")
This should solve your problem. More info here
By the way, if you were using a range, the OFFSET function with INDIRECT as an argument would work. But that's not necessary here.
I have to calculate the standard deviation up to a particular cell in Excel. The value of the first cell is known to me. I also have found the cell id of the second cell, up to which I require the standard deviation, using the ADDRESS function and saved it in another cell.
How can I import that cell id into the formula for standard deviation?
This the formula I have already tried:
=STDEVP(C2:(INDEX(C88,1,1)))
where INDEX(C88,1,1) is used to get last cell id that I stored in cell C88.
Please try:
=STDEV(INDIRECT("C2:"&C8))
Is the reason that you have to look for the "2nd" cell is that you have a table that can increase in size? If so, I suggest changing your range into a table. Excel makes this quite easy with "Format as Table" on the "Home" ribbon.
If you do this, your formula will look as pretty as this:
=STDEV.P(Table1[Column1])
In addition, it resizes by itself. There is no need for hocus pocus.
A table can have a "Totals" row and it allow you to pick the function to use (yes, that includes STDEV).