When we want to find an intersection between a row and a column basing on headers, we can do it in two different ways. The first one will be in Legacy Excel, and the second in Dynamic Array Excel.
The first solution uses the MATCH function as well as its close friend, the INDEX function.
Let’s start with looking for the country. In this case we want to find the row number. Let’s write the cell, the range where we will be looking for and 0 for an exact match (Fig. 1)
=MATCH(B8,A3:A6,0)
Fig. 1 MATCH function for countries
We also want to find the column number. In this case we also use the MATCH function. Let’s the cell, the range where we will be looking for and 0 for an exact match (Fig. 2)
=MATCH(B9,B2:G2,0)
Fig. 2 MATCH function for months
When we have our row and column numbers, we can use the INDEX function, select the whole dataset, then write the row and column numbers (Fig. 3)
=INDEX(B3:G6,D8,D9)
Fig. 3 INDEX function
Just like that, we did the 2D lookup, or we have found the values we wanted (Fig. 4)
Fig. 4 Results
So far, we have had three formulas. If we want to have only one, we need to implement some modifications. We have to copy our MATCH function and paste it in the place referring to cell D8. Then, we have to copy the second MATCH function without the equal sign, and paste it in the place of the reference to cell D9. Now, we have one, bigger formula instead of three smaller ones (Fig. 5)
=INDEX(B3:G6,MATCH(B8,A3:A6,0),MATCH(B9,B2:G2,0))
Fig. 5 One, big formula
Now, let’s focus on the solution in the Array Excel. We will be using here the XLOOKUP function twice.
First, we are looking for a row in the country headers. Then, as a returning array, we give Excel the whole dataset (Fig. 6)
=XLOOKUP(B8,A3:A6,B3:G6)
Fig. 6 XLOOKUP function
Since I’m using the XLOOKUP function, and we are working in the Array Excel,Excel will return the whole row.
In such a case, we have to find a proper column. We can also do it with the XLOOKUP function. Let’s write the XLOOKUP function once again. This time we will be looking for a month in the month headers. As a return array, we have the row we found previously (Fig. 7)
=XLOOKUP(B9,B2:G2,XLOOKUP(B8,A3:A6,B3:G6))
Fig. 7 Another XLOOKUP function
And just like that, we have our results (Fig. 8)
Fig. 8 Results
Even if we change the values in our formula, the result is still correct (Fig. 9)
Fig. 9 Checking the formula
The results are correct both in XLOOKUPs and INDEX with MATCH functions.
Today, we want to learn how the SORT function works in Excel.
Excel SORT Function
The SORT function is available from Dynamic Array Excel, which is around 2021. Let’s start with the simplest version of the SORT function, where we only need to write an array. We have to remember that the array must be given without headers. Let’s select our data and put it as an argument and let’s put our formula into a cell (Fig. 1)
=SORT(A2:C169)
Fig. 1 SORT function
And we have the results. The most important thing about formulas in Dynamic Array Excel is that they spill. It means that our formula is in only one cell, but the results spill. The formula is only in cell E2, but when we click on cell E3, we can see that the formula is grayed out in the formula bar. It means that it contains results of this function, but doesn’t contain the function itself (Fig. 2)
Fig. 2 Formula grayed out
When we add an array with data to be sorted, Excel’s sorting will be based on the first column, which is the column with dates. In the sorted array we don’t see dates but numbers because Excel doesn’t know how to copy the formatting in array formulas. If we want to have proper formatting, we can copy the formatting using the Format Painter (2) from the Home tab (1). We will also highlight the cell with the formula (3) (Fig. 3)
Fig. 3 Using the Format Painter command
Now, our results are formatted. Since we sorted by the first column, our results are basically the same as in our original column. To change that, we can add the second argument to our SORT function, which is the sort index. It’s the number of a column by which we want to sort our data. Let’s write 2, meaning the second column (Fig. 4)
=SORT(A2:C169,2)
Fig. 4 SORT formula with the second argument
We can see that the sorting has changed. Now, we can see that only Chandlers are at the top because it’s an ascending sorting. This way we can sort by any column. Let’s move on to the third argument, which is the sort order. Let’s change it to a descending sorting by writing ‑1 (Fig. 5)
=SORT(A2:C169,2,-1)
Fig. 5 Descending sorting
Now, the first salesman in Ross. Let’s add something more. Let’s sort by Sales from the largest to the smallest. Now, the sales are written randomly in the Sales column. We can add the third column to the second argument. We can also add a reference to cells where numbers of columns are written. It’s very important to write them in the correct order. In our case the first cell from the top contains 2 and the second one contains 3. It means that first, we will sort by the second column, and then by the third column (Fig. 6)
Fig. 6 Adding a cell reference
And we have the results. We can see that Ross is sorted by values in the Sales column. The same is with the rest of the salesmen. Now, let’s focus on the third argument once again. We have two columns of sorting in the second argument, but only one number (-1) in the third argument which is the sort order. It means that the sorting is descending for each column. When we want to have an ascending order for one column and a descending order for another column, we can do the same as we did with the second argument. We have to refer to some cells in Excel. In our case we have a sorting order for each column (Fig. 7)
Fig. 7 Referring to other cells
Now, we have an ascending sorting for the Salesman column, and a descending sorting for the Sales column.
When we don’t want any additional cells in our sheet, we can hard code them in the formula by pressing F9 key. It changes the argument into an array. We can do the same with the sort order argument. When we look at the formula now, we can see that the second column in ascending, and the third column is descending (Fig. 8)
Fig. 8 Hard coding the values
Now that we have everything we needed, we can cancel the unnecessary cells. We don’t even need the third argument, as it is reserved for horizontal sorting. Here, we are sorting only by columns, so we can leave it like that. Here are our results (Fig. 9)
