INDEX

The INDEX formula is one of the top 10 formulas in Excel that you need to understand.

The INDEX formula calculates a value or the reference to a value your data.

Now that sounds complex, but it’s not and when you see what it can do, you will want to use it.

SYNTAX

1. INDEX (range or table, row number, column number)
This will give you the value or reference from given range.

2. INDEX (range, row number, column number, area number)
This will give you the value or reference from specified area at row / column coordinate.

Let’s say you have a list of items that you sell in your store, price of the item and manufacturer of the item and you want to get the name of the item in the 10^th row.

You can use =INDEX(itemlist,8) where itemlist is the range of rows where you have your list.

Now you can use that result to get the manufacturer in the third column using.  =INDEX(itemlist,10,3)

Item	Price	Manufacturer		Result	Formula
Hammer	7.53	ACME West
Bird Seed	13.58	ACME East		Paint	=INDEX(A2:A11,10)
Large Magnet	100.00	ACME South
Rocket Skates	68.54	ACME West		ACME South	=INDEX(A2:C11,10,3)
Safety Helmet	18.00	ACME North
Large Spring	240.00	ACME East
First Aid Kit	72.00	ACME East
Cannon Ball	45.00	ACME West
Rope	12.00	ACME North
Paint	22.50	ACME South

In my next post I will continue showing how to use Index.