Google Sheets is an incredible tool that, when mastered, can revolutionize how you work with data. This article introduces 12 genius formulas and Google Sheets formulas combinations that simplify complex tasks, save time, and enhance productivity.
INDEX + MATCH for Dynamic Lookups Google Sheets formulas
Instead of relying on VLOOKUP, this combo provides flexibility and precision.
Why Use It?
- It can perform horizontal and vertical lookups.
- No dependency on the lookup column’s position.
Example:
Retrieve an employee’s department based on their ID:
=INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(E2, A2:A10, 0))
- B2:B10: Range with department names.
- A2:A10: Range with employee IDs.
- E2: Cell containing the target employee ID.
ARRAYFORMULA for Batch Calculations
Simplify repetitive calculations across entire columns.
Why Use It?
- Eliminates the need to copy formulas down a column.
- Works seamlessly with other functions like IF or TEXT.
Example:
Calculate 10% commission for a sales list:
=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A2:A > 0, A2:A * 0.1, 0))
QUERY for Advanced Data Analysis
Transform data using SQL-like commands.
Why Use It?
- Summarize and filter data efficiently.
- Works across ranges, even with IMPORTRANGE.
Example:
Find total sales for “Product A”:
=QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT B, SUM(C) WHERE A = 'Product A' GROUP BY B")
- A1:C10: Data range.
- A: Product column.
- B: Region column.
- C: Sales column.
SPLIT + TRANSPOSE to Organize Data
Break down and rearrange data easily.
Why Use It?
- Converts a single cell with delimited data into organized rows or columns.
Example:
Split comma-separated emails into columns:
=TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(A1, ","))
TEXTJOIN for Concatenating Data
Create meaningful summaries by joining multiple values into one.
Why Use It?
- Allows separators like commas or spaces.
- Ignores blank cells when desired.
Example:
Combine first and last names with a space:
=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A2:A, B2:B)
UNIQUE + FILTER for Clean, Filtered Data
Extract relevant data without duplicates.
Why Use It?
- Filters based on criteria.
- Removes redundancy in a single step.
Example:
Get a list of unique products sold in a specific region:
=UNIQUE(FILTER(A2:A, B2:B = "Region 1"))
IMPORTRANGE for Cross-Sheet Integration
Fetch data from another Google Sheet.
Why Use It?
- Enables collaboration by integrating multiple data sources.
Example:
Import a sales record:
=IMPORTRANGE("SpreadsheetURL", "Sheet1!A1:C10")
REGEXMATCH for Pattern Recognition
Identify data entries that match specific patterns.
Why Use It?
- Works well for filtering emails, URLs, or other text patterns.
Example:
Check if cells contain email addresses:
=REGEXMATCH(A2:A, "[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}")
SEQUENCE for Automatic Numbering
Generate sequences without manual entry.
Why Use It?
- Useful for creating series like dates or IDs.
Example:
Generate dates for the current month:
=SEQUENCE(DAY(EOMONTH(TODAY(), 0)), 1, DATE(YEAR(TODAY()), MONTH(TODAY()), 1))
MMULT for Advanced Calculations
Perform matrix multiplications for complex data analysis.
Why Use It?
- Enables weighted averages and financial modeling.
Example:
Calculate the weighted average:
=MMULT(A1:A10, TRANSPOSE(B1:B10)) / SUM(B1:B10)
SUBSTITUTE for Text Cleanup
Remove unwanted characters from text data.
Why Use It?
- Perfect for standardizing phone numbers or addresses.
Example:
Remove dashes from phone numbers:
=SUBSTITUTE(A1, "-", "")
IFERROR for Graceful Error Handling
Prevent formulas from displaying errors.
Why Use It?
- Keeps sheets clean and readable.
- Provides alternative values when errors occur.
Example:
Return “Not Found” for failed lookups:
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(E2, A2:C10, 2, FALSE), "Not Found")
Key Takeaways
Mastering these formulas can:
- Enhance productivity.
- Automate repetitive tasks.
- Unlock advanced data analysis capabilities.
What’s Next?
Try these formulas in your own Google Sheets projects and witness how they transform your workflow.
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