Index ArrayFormula

In Google Sheets, INDEX and ARRAYFORMULA are two powerful functions that can help us perform complex or repetitive tasks on large sets of data. However, combining them can be a bit tricky. In this article, we'll take a closer look at how to use INDEX ARRAYFORMULA to manipulate data efficiently.

The Basics

First, let's review what each function does on its own:

INDEX

The INDEX function returns a value from a specific cell within a range of cells, based on the row and column index numbers you specify.

Syntax:

INDEX(range, row_num, [column_num])

Example:

=INDEX(A1:C5, 3, 2)

In this example, A1:C5 is the range of cells we want to search, 3 is the row number (counting from the top), and 2 is the column number (counting from the left). So the formula returns the value in the third row and second column, which is the cell B3.

ARRAYFORMULA

The ARRAYFORMULA function allows us to apply a formula to an entire range of cells, instead of typing it into each individual cell.

Syntax:

ARRAYFORMULA(array_formula)

Example:

=ARRAYFORMULA(A1:A10*B1:B10)

This formula multiplies each cell in the range A1:A10 with the corresponding cell in the range B1:B10, and returns an array of the results.

Using INDEX ARRAYFORMULA together

When we combine INDEX and ARRAYFORMULA, we can perform complex lookups or calculations on large data sets with just a single formula.

Syntax:

=ARRAYFORMULA(INDEX(range, row_num, [column_num]))

Example:

=ARRAYFORMULA(INDEX(A1:C5, {1,3,5}, {2,3}))

In this example, we want to extract data from columns B and C in rows 1, 3, and 5 of the range A1:C5. We use ARRAYFORMULA to apply the INDEX function to the entire range, and wrap the indexes ({1,3,5} and {2,3}) in curly braces to tell the function to return an array of results.

The result of this formula is a 3x2 array, with the values in cells B1, C1, B3, C3, B5, and C5.

Conclusion

With INDEX ARRAYFORMULA, we can save time and effort by performing complex operations on large data sets with just one formula. By understanding the syntax and how the functions work together, we can easily manipulate data and extract the values we need from our spreadsheets.