Choosing the Array Form Argument List
The INDEX function is one of the few in Excel that has multiple forms. The function has an Array Form and a Reference Form.
The Array Form returns the actual data from a database or table of data, while the Reference Form gives you the cell reference or location of the data in the table.
In this tutorial we will use the Array Form since we want to know the name of a supplier for titanium widgets rather than the cell reference to this supplier in our database.
Each form has a different list of arguments that must be selected before beginning the function.
Tutorial Steps
For help with these instructions, see the image above.
- Click on cell F3 to make it the active cell. This is where we will enter the nested function.
- Click on the Formulas tab of the ribbon menu.
- Choose Lookup and Reference from the ribbon to open the function drop down list.
- Click on INDEX in the list to bring up the Select Arguments dialog box.
- Choose the array, row_num, col_num option in the dialog box.
- Click OK to open the INDEX function dialog box.
