INDEX

“INDEX”

Used for – “INDEX” function in MS Excel is used to find the value from and within a table and range or you can say that you can find the value in the intersecting cell of “X” column and “Y” row or an array from the given selection.

Syntax – “INDEX” Function can be used in two different form – Reference Form and Array Form.

Syntax for Array Form: –

            INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num])
             array – It is a array from which you wants to find the array or a cell to give the result. It is a compulsory field and if you did not fill any value excel will not proceed further or ends with an error.

            row_num – It is a number or cell or a formula which makes excel to understand which row has to select to return a value. It is a compulsory field but if row_num is omitted than column_num becomes the compulsory field without which results turns into error.

            [column_num] – It is a number or cell or a formula which makes excel to understand which column has to select to return a value. It is a optional field only if row_num has a value but if row_num is omitted than column_num becomes the compulsory field without which results turns into error.

Syntax for Reference Form: –

            INDEX(refrance, row_num, [column_num], [area_num])
             refrance – It is a cell from which you wants to find the array or a cell to give the result. It is a compulsory field and if you did not fill any value excel will not proceed further or ends with an error.

            row_num – It is a number or cell or a formula which makes excel to understand which row has to select to return a value. It is a compulsory field but if row_num is omitted than column_num becomes the compulsory field without which results turns into error.

            [column_num] – It is a number or cell or a formula which makes excel to understand which column has to select to return a value. It is a optional field only if row_num has a value but if row_num is omitted than column_num becomes the compulsory field without which results turns into error.

            [area_num] – It is a number or cell or a formula which makes excel to understand which area has to select to return a value. It is a optional field only if referance has a single value but if reference has more than one value than area_num becomes the compulsory field without which results turns into error.

Example – Following example will clear the INDEX function:-

In below table column A, B, C, D & E contains some sale data of fruit in different cities and column G contains the “INDEX” function with different ways.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1		Delhi	Chennai	Kolkata	Mumbai
2	Banana	200	300	350	400		=INDEX(A1:E6,2,4)
3	Apple	150	300	250	350		=INDEX(A1:E6,4,2)
4	Pears	500	450	400	475		=INDEX((B2:C6,D2:E6),2,4,1)
5	Papaya	375	300	425	400		=INDEX((B2:C6,D2:E6),4,2,1)
6	Mango	250	300	325	350		=INDEX((B2:C6,D2:E6),4,2,2)
7							=SUM(INDEX(A1:E6,2,0))

And result you get as under:-

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1		Delhi	Chennai	Kolkata	Mumbai
2	Banana	200	300	350	400		350
3	Apple	150	300	250	350		500
4	Pears	500	450	400	475		#REF!
5	Papaya	375	300	425	400		300
6	Mango	250	300	325	350		400
7							1250

NOTE :- Please note down following points to be taken care while using INDEX function:-

• In case both row_num & column_num arguments were provided it returns the value of intersection of both.
• In case the row_num is set as 0 then the result will come as array form and giving the value of column_num and vice versa. To get array result type the formula and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
• In case either of row_num/column_num/area_num is not pointing the value within array the result will become #REF! error.
• Result of INDEX function can be used as a reference or value in other function depending upon the function in which it is being used. See example.

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