Master Excel’s Dynamic Arrays Like a Pro

Excel has revolutionized how we work with data, and with the introduction of dynamic arrays, handling complex data sets has become even more powerful. Dynamic arrays allow you to perform complex calculations and return multiple values in a single cell, which makes your formulas simpler, cleaner, and more flexible.

What Are Dynamic Arrays?

A dynamic array is a collection of values that are output by a formula. Excel automatically spills the result into adjacent cells, so you don’t have to worry about copying or dragging formulas across multiple cells. If your formula returns a range of values, dynamic arrays “spill” the data across rows or columns.

For example, instead of writing a formula in each cell to get the sum of a range, dynamic arrays do it all in one go, populating the cells with the result.

Key Dynamic Array Functions to Know

Let’s explore the functions that make dynamic arrays incredibly useful for data analysis and manipulation.

1️⃣ FILTER – Extract Data Based on Criteria

The FILTER function allows you to extract data dynamically based on conditions you specify. It’s perfect for creating custom reports or analyzing subsets of large datasets.

Syntax:

=FILTER(array, include, [if_empty])

Example:

Suppose you have a sales data table (A2:B100) with product names and sales amounts. You want to extract all sales above $5000.

=FILTER(A2:B100, B2:B100>5000, "No Data Found")

This formula will spill the filtered sales data into the cells below, automatically updating when the data changes.

2️⃣ UNIQUE – Extract Distinct Values

The UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values from a range or array, eliminating duplicates. This is useful when you want to see a list of distinct entries, such as customer names, product types, or any category with repeated values.

Syntax:

=UNIQUE(array, [by_col], [exactly_once])

Example:

To extract a unique list of product names from a column:

=UNIQUE(A2:A100)

This will return only the distinct product names from the list, removing duplicates automatically.

3️⃣ SEQUENCE – Create Number Sequences Quickly

SEQUENCE allows you to create a series of sequential numbers or dates without needing to manually enter each value. You can specify the start number, step size, and number of rows/columns.

Syntax:

=SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])

Example:

Create a list of numbers from 1 to 10 in a single column:

=SEQUENCE(10, 1, 1, 1)

This will generate a column of numbers from 1 to 10 in cells.

4️⃣ SORT – Organize Data in Ascending or Descending Order

The SORT function lets you easily sort a range or array of data in ascending or descending order, and it even supports sorting by multiple columns.

Syntax:

=SORT(array, [sort_index], [sort_order], [by_col])

Example:

Sort a list of sales values (B2:B10) in descending order:

=SORT(B2:B10, 1, -1)

This will display the highest values at the top.

5️⃣ SORTBY – Sort Data Based on Another Range

SORTBY goes a step further by allowing you to sort a range or array based on the values in a different range. This is great for sorting multiple columns simultaneously.

Syntax:

=SORTBY(array, by_array, [sort_order])

Example:

Sort a list of product names (A2:A10) based on their sales values (B2:B10):

=SORTBY(A2:A10, B2:B10, -1)

This will sort product names in descending order based on their corresponding sales values.

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