Vlookup and Offset Multiple Criteria in Google Sheets: A Powerful Array Formula

GiGiKing·March 16, 2024·0 comments

Imagine being able to seamlessly navigate and manipulate your data in Google Sheets using a single formula. That’s the power of Vlookup and offset multiple criteria, a remarkable array formula that takes your spreadsheet experience to the next level.

Unleashing the True Potential of Google Sheets

Google Sheets offers unparalleled flexibility and superior online performance, making it the go-to choice for millions of users. One of its standout features is the ability to use array formulas, like the one we’re about to explore, to solve complex data challenges effortlessly.

But what exactly is Vlookup and offset multiple criteria, and how can it benefit you? Let’s dive in and find out!

Making Sense of Your Data: The Problem

Imagine you have a list of purchase order numbers and items in one tab, and you want to search for each purchase order number in another tab and return the corresponding quantity in separate date columns. This is where Vlookup and offset multiple criteria can work its magic.

Introducing the Array Formula

To achieve this, we’ll walk you through three steps involving multiple criteria Vlookup, splitting the Vlookup result, and offsetting it into corresponding date columns. All of this can be done using a single, powerful array formula.

But don’t worry if it sounds complicated at first. We’ll break it down step by step and guide you through the process.

Step 1: Matching Multiple Criteria with Vlookup

The first step is to match multiple criteria and return the quantities using Vlookup. In our example, we’ll search for purchase order numbers and items in the “Item” tab and retrieve their corresponding quantities.

=ArrayFormula(VLOOKUP(A3:A11&B3:B11, {Item!A2:A10&Item!C2:C10,INT(Item!B2:B10),Item!D2:D10}, {2,3}, 0))

This formula combines the purchase order numbers and items into a single search key and performs the Vlookup operation. The results will be displayed in the “Offset Match” tab.

Step 2: Splitting the Vlookup Result

Now that we have the Vlookup result, we need to split it into separate columns. This is where the Index function comes into play.

To extract the first column of the Vlookup result, use the following formula:

=INDEX(step_1_formula, 0, 1)

To extract the second column of the Vlookup result, use this formula:

=INDEX(step_1_formula, 0, 2)

Replace step_1_formula with the Vlookup formula from step 1.

Step 3: Offsetting the Vlookup Result

The final step is to distribute the Vlookup result into the corresponding date columns. To achieve this, we’ll use a combination of the IF and Sequence functions.

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(step_3_formula = step_2_formula_1, step_2_formula_2,))

Replace step_3_formula with the sequence formula and step_2_formula_1 and step_2_formula_2 with the formulas from step 2.

Putting It All Together

By combining these three steps, we create a powerful array formula that handles multiple criteria Vlookup, splits the result, and offsets it into the desired date columns. The final formula will look like this:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IFNA(IF(sequence(9,31)^0+$C$2:$AF$2-1=INDEX(VLOOKUP(A3:A11&B3:B11, {Item!A2:A10&Item!C2:C10,INT(Item!B2:B10),Item!D2:D10}, {2,3}, 0),0,1),INDEX(VLOOKUP(A3:A11&B3:B11, {Item!A2:A10&Item!C2:C10,INT(Item!B2:B10),Item!D2:D10}, {2,3}, 0),0,2),)))

Feel free to test and adapt this formula to your specific requirements.

Scaling Up: Handling Larger Datasets

If you need to expand the formula to cover more rows, follow these simple steps:

  1. Change sequence(9,31) to sequence(100,31).
  2. Replace the range references A3:A11 and B3:B11 with A3:A100 and B3:B100, respectively.
  3. Modify the range references in the Vlookup formula from Item!A2:A10, Item!B2:B10, Item!C2:C10, and Item!D2:D10 to Item!A2:A100, Item!B2:B100, Item!C2:C100, and Item!D2:D100, respectively.

Remember to consider the potential impact on performance when dealing with larger datasets.

Unlocking the True Potential of Google Sheets with Crawlan.com

Google Sheets is full of hidden gems like the Vlookup and offset multiple criteria array formula. To discover more tips, tricks, and information on how to make the most of this powerful tool, visit Crawlan.com.

At Crawlan, we’re dedicated to helping you unlock the true potential of Google Sheets and other productivity tools. Check out our website and explore the world of data manipulation, automation, and optimization.

Unleash your data superpowers with Crawlan.com. It’s time to take your spreadsheet skills to the next level!

GiGiKing

Related posts