Excel 2016 - Use text in cell as table column reference

Excel 2016 is a powerful tool that allows you to organize and analyze data in various ways. One useful feature is the ability to use text in a cell as a table column reference. This can come in handy when you have a large dataset and want to dynamically reference different columns based on the content of a cell. In this article, we will explore how to use text in a cell as a table column reference in Excel 2016.

Step 1: Set up your data

Before we can use text in a cell as a table column reference, we need to have a dataset to work with. Let's say we have a table with different products and their corresponding prices. The table has columns labeled "Product Name," "Price," and "Quantity." We want to be able to reference the "Price" column dynamically based on the product name entered in a cell.

Step 2: Enter the product name

In a new cell, enter the name of the product you want to reference. For example, let's say we want to reference the price of the product "Apple." Enter "Apple" in cell A1.

Step 3: Use the INDEX and MATCH functions

Now, we can use the INDEX and MATCH functions to retrieve the price of the product based on the text in cell A1. In a new cell, enter the following formula:

Here's what each part of the formula does:

• INDEX: This function returns the value at a specified row and column in a range.
• MATCH: This function searches for a specified item in a range of cells and returns the relative position of that item.
• A1: This is the cell that contains the text we want to use as the lookup value.
• Product Name: This is the range of cells that contains the product names.
• Price: This is the range of cells that contains the prices.
• 0: This specifies an exact match.

After entering the formula, press Enter to get the price of the product "Apple" from the "Price" column.

Step 4: Test with different product names

Now that we have set up the formula, we can test it with different product names. Simply change the text in cell A1 to the desired product name, and the formula will automatically update to retrieve the corresponding price from the "Price" column.

Step 5: Formatting and customization

You can format the cell with the formula to display the retrieved price in a specific way. For example, you can apply currency formatting to the cell to show the price with a dollar sign and two decimal places. You can also customize the formula to reference different columns or ranges based on your specific needs.

Conclusion

Using text in a cell as a table column reference in Excel 2016 can be a powerful tool for organizing and analyzing data. By utilizing the INDEX and MATCH functions, you can dynamically retrieve information from different columns based on the content of a cell. This can save you time and effort when working with large datasets. Experiment with this feature and explore how it can benefit your data analysis tasks in Excel 2016.

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