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Putting Advanced Array Formulas To Work - Excel

The document provides examples of advanced array formulas in Excel that can sum ranges containing errors, count errors, sum values based on conditions, compute averages excluding zeros, compare two ranges, find maximum values, and return cell addresses of maximum values.

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213 views

Putting Advanced Array Formulas To Work - Excel

The document provides examples of advanced array formulas in Excel that can sum ranges containing errors, count errors, sum values based on conditions, compute averages excluding zeros, compare two ranges, find maximum values, and return cell addresses of maximum values.

Uploaded by

nksuthar5399
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4/17/2014

Putting advanced array formulas to work - Excel

Putting advanced array formulas to work

By John Walkenbach Adapted for Office Online by Colin Wilcox The examples in this reference page show some advanced ways to use array formulas in Excel. APPLIES TO Microsoft Excel 2003 Excel 2002 See all Power User columns Read the Office blogs This is a reference page of examples for use with the Power User columns Introducing Array Formulas in Excel and More Arrays: Introducing Array Constants in Excel. To make the best use of the examples provided here, you need to be familiar with either array formulas or the content of those columns. If you prefer the depth and detail that a book can provide, see chapters 14 and 15 of Excel 2002 Formulas, by John Walkenbach. The examples here show you some advanced ways to put array formulas and constants to work. The examples use named ranges such as "Data" instead of specific cell ranges such as "A1:C7." For basic array formula examples, see Putting Basic Array Formulas to Work. For a larger set of both basic and advanced examples, see John's book.

Sum a range that contains error values


The SUM function in Microsoft Excel doesn't work when you try to sum a range that contains an error value such as #N/A. This example shows you how to sum the values in a range named "Data" that contains errors: =SUM(IF(ISERROR(Data),"",Data)) The formula creates a new array that contains the original values minus any error values. Starting from the inner functions and working outward, the ISERROR function searches the cell range (Data) for errors. The IF function returns one value if a condition you specify evaluates to TRUE, and another value if it evaluates to FALSE. In this case, it returns empty strings ("") for all error values because they evaluate to TRUE, and the remaining values from the range (Data again) because they evaluate to FALSE, meaning that they don't contain error values. The SUM function then calculates the total for the filtered array.

Count the number of error values in a range


This example is similar to the previous formula, but it returns the number of error values in a range named "Data" instead of filtering them out: =SUM(IF(ISERROR(Data),1,0)) This formula creates an array of 1s for the cells that contain errors, and 0s for the cells that don't. You can simplify the formula and achieve the same result by removing the third argument for the IF function, like so: =SUM(IF(ISERROR(Data),1)) If you don't specify the argument, the function returns FALSE if a cell does not contain an error value. You can simplify the formula even more: =SUM(IF(ISERROR(Data)*1)) This version works because TRUE*1=1 and FALSE*1=0.

Sum values based on conditions


You often need to sum values based on conditions. For example, this array formula sums just the positive integers in a range named "Sales": =SUM(IF(Sales>0,Sales)) The IF function creates an array of positive values and false values. The SUM function essentially ignores the false values because 0+0=0. The cell range that you use in this formula can consist of any number of rows and columns. You can also sum values that meet more than one condition. For example, this array formula calculates values greater than zero and less than or equal to five:
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4/17/2014

Putting advanced array formulas to work - Excel

=SUM((Sales>0)*(Sales<=5)*(Sales)) Keep in mind that this formula returns an error if the range contains one or more non-numeric cells. You can also create array formulas that use a type of OR condition. For example, you can sum values that are less than 5 and greater than 15: =SUM(IF((Sales<5)+(Sales>15),Sales)) The IF function finds all values smaller than 5 and greater than 15 and then passes those values to the SUM function. Important You can't use the AND and OR functions in array formulas directly. Why not? Those functions return a single result, either TRUE or FALSE, and array functions require arrays of results. You can work around the problem by using the logic shown in the previous formula. In other words, you perform math operations such as addition or multiplication on values that meet the OR or AND condition.

Compute an average that excludes zeros


This example shows you how to remove zeros from a range when you need to average the values in that range. The formula uses a data range named "Sales": =AVERAGE(IF(Sales<>0,Sales)) The IF function creates an array of values that do not equal zero and then passes those values to the AVERAGE function.

Count the number of differences between two ranges of cells


This array formula compares the values in two ranges of cells named "MyData" and "YourData" and returns the number of differences between the two. If the contents of the two ranges are identical, the formula returns 0. To use this formula, the cell ranges must be the same size and of the same dimension: =SUM(IF(MyData=YourData,0,1)) The formula creates a new array of the same size as the ranges that you're comparing. The IF function fills the array with 0s and 1s (0s for mismatches and 1s for identical cells). The SUM function then returns the sum of the values in the array. You can simplify the formula like this: =SUM(1*(MyData<>YourData)) Like the formula that counts error values in a range, this formula works because TRUE*1=1, and FALSE*1=0.

Find the location of the maximum value in a range


This array formula returns the row number of the maximum value in a single-column range named "Data": =MIN(IF(Data=MAX(Data),ROW(Data),"")) The IF function creates a new array that corresponds to the "Data" range. If a corresponding cell contains the maximum value in the range, the array contains the row number. Otherwise, the array contains an empty string (""). The MIN function uses the new array as its second argument and returns the smallest value, which corresponds to the row number of the maximum value in "Data." If the "Data" range contains identical maximum values, the formula returns the row of the first value. If you want to return the actual cell address of a maximum value, use this formula: =ADDRESS(MIN(IF(Data=MAX(Data),ROW(Data),"")),COLUMN(Data))

A final note
The examples on this page are a subset of the examples that John Walkenbach created for Excel 2002 Formulas. If the examples provided here don't meet your needs, see chapter 15 of the book.

More information
For information about creating array formulas, see Introducing Array Formulas in Excel and More Arrays: Introducing Array Constants in Excel. For some introductory array formula examples, see Putting Basic Array Formulas to Work.

About the authors


John Walkenbach is an Excel Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and author of Excel 2002 Formulas, the book that provides the information for this set of columns. To learn more about John's other books, see his book page. Colin Wilcox writes for the Office Help team. See all Power User columns
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Putting advanced array formulas to work - Excel

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