Set array in excel

Array formulas are very useful and powerful formulas used to perform some of the very complex calculations in Excel. It is also known as the CSE formula. We need to press “CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER” together to execute array formulas instead of pressing enter. There are two types of array formulas: one that gives us a single result and another that provides multiple results.

For example, suppose you have the data set showing the production and cost for the four products, and you need to calculate the total cost of all the products. We could do this by simply adding formula in the column that multiplies the production and costs of the products and then adding a sum at the bottom of the column. However, the array formulas avoid these steps and provide an answer with a single formula.

Arrays in excelA VBA array in excel is a storage unit or a variable which can store multiple data values. These values must necessarily be of the same data type. This implies that the related values are grouped together to be stored in an array variable.read more can be termed array formulas in Excel. Array in Excel is a powerful formula that enables us to perform complex calculations.

What is an Array? An array is a set of values or variables in a data set like {a,b,c,d} is an array that has values from “a” to “d.” Similarly, in an Excel array is a range of cells of values,

In the above screenshot, cells from B2 to cell G2 are an array or range of cells.

These are also known as “CSE formulas” or “Control Shift Enter Formulas.” For example, for creating an array formula in Excel, we must press “Ctrl + Shift + Enter.”

In Excel, we have two types of array formulas:

1. One, which gives us a single result.
2. Another which gives us more than one result.

We will learn both the types of array formulas on this topic.

Explanation of Array Formulas in Excel

Array formulas in Excel are powerful formulas that help us perform very complex calculations.

We learned from the above examples that these formulas in Excel simplify complex and lengthy calculations. There is one thing to remember. However, in example 2, we returned multiple values using these formulas in Excel. We cannot change or cut the cell’s value as it is a part of an array.

Suppose we want to delete cell G6 Excel. It will give us an error. Even if we change the value in the cell type, any random value in the cell Excel will provide an error.

For example, type a number in cell G6 and press the “Enter” key. It may provide the following error,

Upon typing a random value 56 in cell G6, it may give an error that we cannot change a part of the array.

If we need to edit an array formula, go to the function bar and edit the provided values or range. If we want to delete the array formula, delete the whole array, i.e., cell range B6 to G6.

How to Use Array Formulas in Excel?

Let us learn an array formula by a few examples:

You can download this Array Formula Excel Template here – Array Formula Excel Template

One can use array formulas in two types:

1. If we want to return a single value, use these formulas in a single cell, as in example 1.
2. If we want to return more than one value, use these formulas in Excel by selecting the range of cells as in example 2.
3. Press CTRL + Shift + Enter to make an array formula.

Example #1

A restaurant’s sales data consists of each product’s price and the number of products sold.

The owner wants to calculate the total sales done by those products.

The owner multiplies the number of items sold for each product then sums them up as in the given-below equation,

Also, he gets the total sales as given below:

But this is a lengthy task. If the data were bigger, it would be much more tedious. So instead, Excel offers array of formulas for such tasks.

We will create our first array formula in cell B7.

Example #2

With the same data, what if the owner wants to know the sales for each product separately, like sales of products 1 and 2?

He can either go a long way. In each cell, perform a function that will calculate the sales value.

The equation mentioned in cell B5 will be required to repeat for cells C4, D4, etc.

Again, it would be a tedious task if it were larger data.

In this example, we will learn how array formulas in Excel return multiple values for a set of arrays.

#1 – Select the cells where we want our subtotals, i.e., per product sales for each product. In this case, it is a cell range B8 to G8.

#2 – Type an equal to sign “=” a

#3 –Select cell range B2 to G2.

#4 – Type an asterisk “*” sign after B2:G2.

#5 – Now, select cell range B3 to G3.

#6 – Do not press the “Enter” key for the array formula. Press “CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER” for array formula.

The above example explains how an array formula can return multiple values for an array in Excel.

Cells B6 to G6 are an array.

Example #3

For the same restaurant owner, he has the restaurant sales data for six months Jan, Feb, March, April, May, and June. He wants to know the average growth rate for sales.

The owner can normally subtract the sales value of Feb month to Jan in cell C2 and then calculate the average.

Again, it would be a tiresome task if this were larger data. So let us do this with the array in Excel formulas.

#1 – In cell D8, type =average. Then, press the “tab” button.

#2 – To calculate growth, we will need to subtract the values of one month from the previous month to select the cell range from B3 to B7.

#3 – Put a subtract (-) sign after B3:B7,

#4 – Now, select cells from B2 to B6.

#5 – As for the array in Excel, do not press the “Enter” key. Press “CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.”

Array formulas in Excel easily calculated the average growth for the sales without any hassle.

The owner now does not require calculating each month’s growth and performs the average function after that.

Things to Remember

1. These are also known as CSE Formulas or Control Shift Enter ExcelCtrl-Shift Enter In Excel is a shortcut command that facilitates implementing the array formula in the excel function to execute an intricate computation of the given data. Altogether it transforms a particular data into an array format in excel with multiple data values for this purpose.read more Formulas.
2. Do not make parenthesis for an array; Excel itself does that. It would return an error or incorrect value.
3. Entering the parenthesis “{“manually, Excel will treat it as a text.
4. Do not press the “Enter” key. Instead, press “CTRL + SHIFT + Enter” to use an array formula.
5. We cannot change the cell of an array. So, to modify an array formula, either modify the formula from the function bar or delete the formula and redesign it in the desired format.

Recommended Articles

This article is a step-by-step guide to Array formulas in Excel. Here, we discuss how to use array in Excel using basic SUM and AVERAGE formulas and use it to solve array in Excel along with Excel examples and downloadable Excel templates. You may also look at these useful functions in Excel: –

• What is Name Range in Excel?
• Redim Array in Excel VBA
• Excel Formula Cheat Sheet
• VBA Array Function

An array in Excel is a structure that holds a collection of values. Arrays can be mapped perfectly to ranges in a spreadsheet, which is why they are so important in Excel. An array can be thought of as a row of values, a column of values, or a combination of rows and columns with values. All cell references like A1:A5 and C1:F5 have underlying arrays, though the array structure is invisible in most contexts.

Example

In the example above, the three ranges map to arrays in a «row by column» scheme like this:

B5:D5 // 1 row x 3 columns
B8:B10 // 3 rows x 1 column
B13:D14  // 2 rows x 3 columns

If we display the values in these ranges as arrays, we have:

B5:D5={"red","green","blue"}
B8:B10={"red";"green";"blue"} 
B13:D14={10,20,30;40,50,60}

Notice arrays must represent a rectangular structure.

Array syntax

All arrays in Excel are wrapped in curly brackets {} and the delimiters between array elements indicate rows and/or columns.  In the US version of Excel, a comma (,) separates columns and a semicolon (;) separates rows. For example, both arrays below contain numbers 1-3, but one is horizontal and one is vertical:

{1,2,3} // columns (horizontal)
{1;2;3} // rows (vertical)

Text values in an array appear in double quotes («») like this:

{"a","b","c"}

To «see» the array associated with a range, start a formula with an equal sign (=) and select the range. Then use the F9 key to inspect the underlying array. You can also use the ARRAYTOTEXT function to show how columns and rows are represented. Set format to 1 (strict) to see the complete array.

Delimiters in other languages

In other language versions of Excel, the delimiters for rows and column can vary. For example, the Spanish version of Excel uses a backslash () for columns and a semicolon (;) for rows:

{123} // columns
{1;2;3} // rows

Arrays in formulas

Since arrays map directly to ranges, all formulas work with arrays in some way, though it isn’t always obvious. A simple example is a formula that uses the SUM function to sum the range A1:A5, which contains 10,15,20,25,30. Inside SUM, the range resolves to an array of values. SUM then sums all values in the array and returns a single result of 100:

=SUM(A1:A5)
=SUM({10;15;20;25;30})
=100

Note: you can use the F9 key to «see» arrays in your Excel formulas. See this video for a demo on using F9 to debug.

Array formulas

Array formulas involve an operation that delivers an array of results. For example, here is a simple array formula that returns the total count of characters in the range A1:A5:

=SUM(LEN(A1:A5))

Inside the LEN function, A1:A5 is expanded to an array of values. The LEN function then generates a character count for each value and returns an array of 5 results. The SUM function then returns the sum of all items in the array.  

Dynamic arrays

With the introduction of Dynamic Array formulas in Excel, arrays have become more important, since it is easier than ever to write formulas that work with multiple results at the same time.