Home Archives for INDEX Function for Lookups
November 15, 2010 Leave a Comment

Use a Combo Box to Dynamically Change Your Excel Chart Data

You can “drive” your Excel Charts – dynamically change the data behind the chart. Focus your audience’s attention on the information that you are discussing. Let your audience see a chart that illustrates the scenario that they select.

To do this – add a Combo Box that lists the choices for each chart display that you offer!

(Click here to view my free Excel Training lesson on Combo Box Controls for more information.)

Key Steps to Take:

  • Use the INDEX() Function to look-up the values for your chart data.
  • For the 2nd argument in the INDEX() Function select the cell that is the “cell link” for your Combo Box. Use the F4 Keyboard Shortcut to make this part of the formula “Absolute.”
  • Insert the Chart Type that best represents your data. Position your chart adjacent to the Combo Box.

Click here to watch this video on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels –  in High Definition and Full Screen Mode.

I have several lessons that cover Charting in Excel 2007 on my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” Buy it now!

Learn to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Use a Combo Box to Dynamically Change Your Excel Chart Data [ 6:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1407)
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October 30, 2010 1 Comment

How to Add a Data Validation Drop Down List to an Excel Form

Several viewers wrote to me after I posted my previous video – “How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Excel Invoice Form” to suggest that there is another way to create a “drop down list” for a form. Yes, you can use Data Validation in Excel and use “Allow from List” as your setting. Use the “Stop Style” to prevent a user from typing in a value that is not in the list.

In this Excel Training Video I compare both approaches: Using a Combo Box Control and Adding a Data Validation Drop Down List. Both work well on Invoice Forms. However, you will use a different function to “lookup” other values – e.g. Unit Price – depending upon your choice:

  • With a Combo Box Control, use the =INDEX() function to find the “Unit Price” for the product selected in the Combo Box
  • With a Data Validation Drop Down List, use the =VLOOKUP() function to find the matching “Unit Price.”

Let me know which approach that you prefer. Try both – expand your Excel Skill Set. Add your comments below or send me an email with your thoughts and suggestions: danny@thecompanyrocks.com

You can start to shop for my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” by clicking this link.

Learn how you can “Master Excel in Minutes”

How to Add a Data Valication Drop Down List to an Excel Form [ 6:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3114)
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October 28, 2010 13 Comments

How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Invoice in Excel

If you are creating or modifying an Invoice Form in Excel, you will want to add a Combo Box Control to allow users to select products from a listing. The key in formatting your Combo Box Control is to choose the correct cell to contain the “Cell Link.”

Cell Link in Form Control

I think that you will benefit from “seeing how this is done” in this video lesson. I know that I always struggled with “reading about” Excel Form Controls. Once you see how important the “Cell Link” placement is, you will better understand how Combo Box Controls work.

Use INDEX Function

Once we have formatted the Combo Box, we need to be able to look up other values to place on our Invoice. In this example I demonstrate how to use the INDEX() Function to lookup the “Unit Price” for each product selected from the Combo Box list on the Invoice. As a best practice, I recommend that you use “Named Ranges” for the “array” that you Index. The INDEX() Function has three arguments:

  1. The ARRAY to Index – In this case our “named range” with three fields (Product Name, Unit Price, Cell Link)
  2. The ROW reference – In this case the cell in the ARRAY that contains our CELL LINK for the Combo Box
  3. Optionally, the COLUMN reference – in this case “2” for the 2nd Column in the ARRAY (Unit Price)

Let me know if my videos in this series have helped you to understand how to use Form Controls in Excel. It took me some time to figure out how they worked; I hope that I can save you some time and ease your frustration in apply them to your forms. Add your comments below or send me an email – danny@thecompanyrocks.com

Find Additional Videos for Form Controls in Excel

Form Controls include Option Buttons, Spinners, List Boxes and more. Here is a link to the other videos in my series on Form Controls in Excel.

Watch Tutorial on YouTube

If you prefer, follow this link so that you can watch this video on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Resources Available at My Online Shopping Site

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How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Invoice Form in Excel [ 8:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1645)
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