How to Use Excel's Index Function

Among the many great functions included in Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet software, Index is a neat command that can "pick out" a value in a specific cell range. Excel programmers use Index as an alternative way to reference a particular cell.

Instructions

1. Access the "function text box" in Excel. This is the text box with the = sign to the left, where programmers can put a range of variables that will code in different results.

2. Add the Index command. The rest of the code will be in a set of parentheses.

3. Input the beginning of your cell range. Your cell range is the area of the page you'll be selecting a cell value from. Let's say you've only entered values into the A, B, C and D rows down to the 7th line. Your beginning cell range parameter is A1.

4. Add an ending cell range. For the example above, assuming you want to choose from all of your cell values, your ending parameter would be D7.

5. Look at your cell range closely. In order to choose a particular cell, you'll be using counters within your cell range. For instance, let's say you want to select the value in B3. First, count down to the third cell row. That's a value of =3. Add a parameter of 3, so that your command looks like this: INDEX (A1, D7, 3,

6. Count across, using A as 1, B as 2, etc. So, to select a cell in B, our last parameter will be 2, so your finished statement looks like this: INDEX (A1, D7, 3, 2)

7. Use your finished INDEX function within a cell reference or other command to get the values you want into their destinations.