Hey there, fellow Google Sheets enthusiasts! Today, I’m going to let you in on a little secret that will greatly enhance your data analysis skills in Google Sheets. We’re going to dive into the world of multiple IF statements, also known as nested IF statements, and explore the best way to use them effectively.
Using Multiple IF Statements in Google Sheets (Nested)
First off, let’s clarify what we mean by multiple IF statements. When you use multiple IF functions within the same function in Google Sheets, we call it nested IF statements because each IF statement sits inside the next one. Nesting allows you to perform multiple conditional checks in a single formula in Google Sheets.
Syntax
The syntax for multiple IF statements in Google Sheets is as follows:
=IF(condition1, value_if_true1, IF(condition2, value_if_true2, IF(condition3, value_if_true3, value_if_false))))
Examples
Before we get started, you can check out all the examples presented in this article on our example Google Sheets spreadsheet.
Let’s say you want to use nested IF statements in Google Sheets to identify marathon competitors deserving of a medal. Here’s how you can do it:
- Click on cell C2 and enter the following formula:
=IF(ISNUMBER(TIMEVALUE(B2)), IF(B2<E$2, "YES", "NO"), "Invalid Data")
The first IF function checks for the validity of the Elapsed_Time data and returns “Invalid Data” if a value is out of range or in the wrong format.
The second IF function checks if the competitor deserves a medal and returns either “YES” or “NO”.
- Copy the formula from C2 down the C column for each data row.
A simple combination of 2 IF statements cannot assign the appropriate medal to each competitor. However, it can identify medal winners and filter out invalid data.
- Sort the data by column C to group the records for further processing.
Using multiple IF statements in Google Sheets allows you to select medal winners and assign the correct medal.
To simplify things, let’s assume valid data is used in this example.
Assigning correctly from 6 different medals requires an IF statement for each possibility. Note that the last argument is returned only when none of the IF statements are true.
Make sure to apply the correct syntax, as misplaced parentheses or commas can cause errors. The complexity of multiple IF statements can easily lead to unnoticed errors, so be cautious!
Using Multiple IF Statements with the IFS Function in Google Sheets
Now, let’s talk about an even better way to handle multiple IF statements in Google Sheets – the IFS function. It’s a game-changer for combining multiple IF statements, with a simpler syntax that makes error detection a breeze.
You can read our comprehensive tutorial on the IFS function by checking out Crawlan.com.
Syntax
The syntax for the IFS function in Google Sheets is as follows:
=IFS(condition1, value1, [condition2, value2, ...])
Examples
Before we continue, you can find all the examples presented in this article on our example Google Sheets spreadsheet.
Let’s see how the IFS function can be used to assign medals:
- Click on cell C2 and type:
=IFS(B2<E$2,F$2,B2<E$3,F$3,B2<E$4,F$4,B2<E$5,F$5,B2<E$6,F$6,B2<E$7,F$7,B2>E$7,"NO MEDAL")
To simplify things, let’s assume valid data is used in this example.
The entire formula is placed between a single pair of parentheses.
The IFS function yields the same result and is much simpler to use.
- Use the IFS function in Google Sheets to check stocks and create a shopping list.
Click on cell D2 and type: =IFS(B2<G2,I2,TRUE,"")
Copy the formula down the D column for each data row.
The IFS function lists the quantities of the specific ingredients to buy for bread making.
Avoiding “#N/A” when using the IFS function for multiple IF statements in Google Sheets is crucial.
The IFS function in Google Sheets returns a “#N/A” error if none of the conditions are true.
To avoid these errors, set conditions that cover all scenarios. For example:
=IFS(A1>100, "Yes", A1<100, "No", A1=100, "Undecided")
Now that you’re armed with the magic of multiple IF statements and the IFS function, let’s explore some additional information to take your Google Sheets skills to the next level!
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Related IF Functions
Here are some other IF functions you might find useful in your Google Sheets journey:
- SI: Allows you to check specific conditions within a dataset.
- SUMIF: Adds numbers if they meet specific criteria.
- SUMIFS: Adds data from cells that meet multiple criteria.
- COUNTIF: Counts data if it meets certain criteria.
- COUNTIFS: Counts data that meets two or more criteria.
- COUNTAN: Counts cells if they contain data.
- IFERROR: Allows you to return values when an error occurs in a formula.
- IFTHEN: Allows you to write statements with the logic of IF X Then Y.
- IFAND: Combines the functionality of IF and AND.
- IFELSE: Sets conditions to return output based on whether a given condition is met or not.
- IFOR: Evaluates multiple conditions and produces a TRUE result when any of them are met.
- IFCONTAINS: Returns cells containing a specific text.
- AVERAGEIF: Calculates an average for numbers in a data range if they meet the provided criteria.
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Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, go forth and conquer those IF statements in Google Sheets like the spreadsheet superstar you are! Happy analyzing!
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