Google Docs spreadsheets can save you a lot of work. But they can also complicate things if you don't know how to get the most out of them. Did you know that there are a lot of functions to do certain tasks in a more automated way?
When working with a lot of data , it is important to know how to use this tool in the most efficient way. And you can let yourself be helped by the so-called functions. Today we have decided to compile here ten useful functions, which are not so easy to understand and which will get you out of a lot of trouble.
Willing to be more efficient with your spreadsheets in Google Docs? Read on to get started.
1. Horizontal search
The horizontal search looks for a value in the first row of a range. It also provides the value of a specific cell within the localized column.
Syntax: HLOOKUP (lookup_value; interval; index; is_ordered)
2. Vertical search
In vertical search, the value is located in the first column of an interval. And it offers the value of a specific cell, within the found row.
Syntax: VLOOKUP (search_value, interval, index, is_ordered)
3. Match search
In this case, what this function offers is to locate the relative position of an element in an interval, coinciding with the value that has been specified.
Syntax: MATCH (search_value, interval, search_type)
4. Count
This function allows you to count the numerical values of a data set.
Syntax: COUNT (value1; [value2;…])
There is another option that allows you to count the number of values in a data set.
Syntax: COUNTA (value1; [value2;…])
5. Choose
This is a very useful function for searching for items in a list. This function, called CHOOSE, offers an element from a list of options, according to the index that we have indicated. Up to 30 values are supported.
Syntax: CHOOSE (index, value1, value2)
6. Find
This function returns us the position in which a specific string of text is located for the first time. Double characters count as two.
Syntax: FINDB (search_string, text_to_ search, [start_position])
7. Date
Within this function we find several different options or utilities. One of the most useful is the one that converts the year, month and day into a date . But there are more functions. And they are the following:
- NOW. The current date and time as a date value. Syntax: NOW ()
- YEAR. The specific year for a specified date. Syntax: YEAR (date)
- DATE. Converts the specified year, month, and day to a date. Syntax. DATE (year, month, day)
8. Average
When you are interested in taking averages, this is a function that can also be very useful. In this case, the average of a set of selected values is performed.
Syntax: AVERAGE BD (database, field, criteria)
9. Maximum and Minimum
Through the MAX and MIN functions, the system allows us to locate the maximum and minimum values of the numerical data sets included in the cells.
- BDMIN . In this case, the minimum value selected within a range or array with database table structure is offered. The query is SQL type. Syntax: BDMIN (database, field, criteria).
- BDMAX . It is the maximum value selected, also within a range or array with a database structure. Syntax: BDMAX (database, field, criteria).
10. Yes
Lastly, we have to mention the IF function . This is used to show one value or another, depending on whether a logical expression is true or false.
Syntax: AVERAGEIF (criterion_range, criterion, [average_range])
These are the basic functions to use the Google Docs spreadsheets . You should know, yes, that there are many more. If you want to learn how they work and keep saving time, you can check them out here.