Book Image

Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures

By : David Ringstrom
Book Image

Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures

By: David Ringstrom

Overview of this book

David Ringstrom coined the phrase “Either you work Excel, or it works you!” after observing how many users carry out tasks inefficiently. In this book, you’ll learn how to get more done with less effort. This book will enable you to create resilient spreadsheets that are easy for others to use as well, while incorporating spreadsheet disaster preparedness techniques. The time-saving techniques covered in the book include creating custom shortcuts and icons to streamline repetitive tasks, as well as automating them with features such as Tables and Custom Views. You’ll see how Conditional Formatting enables you to apply colors, Cell icons, and other formatting on-demand as your data changes. You’ll be empowered to protect the integrity of spreadsheets and increase usability by implementing internal controls, and understand how to solve problems with What-If Analysis features. In addition, you’ll master new features and functions such as XLOOKUP, Dynamic Array functions, LET and LAMBDA, and Power Query, while learning how to leverage shortcuts and nuances in Excel. By the end of this book, you’ll have a broader awareness of how to avoid pitfalls in Excel. You’ll be empowered to work more effectively in Excel, having gained a deeper understanding of the frustrating oddities that can arise daily in Excel.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Improving Accessibility
6
Part 2:Spreadsheet Interactivity and Automation
12
Part 3: Data Analysis

The XMATCH function

The =XMATCH(G3,B3:B12) formula in cell H3 of Figure 10.11 returns 9 because it found Stockton Beach in the ninth row of the B3:B12 range. The =XMATCH(G8,B3:B12) formula in cell H8 returns #N/A because Short Beach does not appear within cells B3:B12. Finally, the =XMATCH(G13,B2:E2) formula in cell H13 of Figure 10.11 returns 3 because it found Miles in the third column of the B2:E2 range. As you can see, XMATCH can look down rows or across columns, just like the MATCH function:

Figure 10.11 – The XMATCH function

The XMATCH function has four arguments:

  • Lookup_value – What to look for.
  • Lookup_array – A row, column, or array to search.
  • Match_type – This optional argument offers the same four choices as XLOOKUP:
    • 0 – Exact match, or return #N/A
    • -1 – Exact match, or return the next smaller item
    • 1 – Exact match, or return the next larger item
    • 2 – Wildcard match using *, ?, or ~
  • ...