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How to define range based on another cell value in Excel?

To calculate a range of values is easy for most of Excel users, but have you ever tried to calculate a range of values based on the number in a specific cell? For example, there is a column of values in column A, and I want to calculate the number of values in column A based on the value in B2, which means that if it is 4 in B2, I will average the first 4 values in column A as below screenshot shown. Now I introduce a simple formula to quickly define range based on another cell value in Excel.
doc define range by cell value 1

Define range based on cell value

arrow blue right bubble Define range based on cell value

To do calculation for a range based on another cell value, you can use a simple formula.

Select a blank cell which you will put out the result, enter this formula =AVERAGE(A1:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",B2))), and press Enter key to get the result.
doc define range by cell value 2

Note:

1. In the formula, A1 is the first cell in the column you want to calculate, A is the column you calculate for, B2 is the cell you calculate based on. You can change these references as you need.

2. If you want to do summary, you can use this formula =SUM(A1:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",B2))).

3. If the first data you want to define is not in first row in the Excel, for instance, in cell A2, you can use the formula as this: =AVERAGE(A2:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",ROW(A2)+B2-1))).
doc define range by cell value 2

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Comments (21)
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Syed Wasi
Syed Wasi
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But If I want to sum a column range(say l7:l7800) out of the range d7:ct9000 based on the condition in column a(a7:a9000) and column b(b7:b9000). How will I do it. Please advise
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CareTaker
CareTaker
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Is there a way to create a dynamic ranged view, that will isolate all orders from a specific client within a list of clients? I have looked at multiple videos and none actually do what I need it to do. Is there a way to do this or would I need to pull the needed info into a controlled table and use the information from that table?
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Sunny
Sunny     CareTaker
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Hi, CareTaker. I do not get your question clearly. Could you describe your question or upload a file to show the quetion in details? But I recomend a utility called Data Association for you, maybe can help you, go to this web for details: https://www.extendoffice.com/product/kutools-for-excel/excel-click-cell-to-filter-based-on-another-workbook.html.
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CareTaker
CareTaker     Sunny
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Thank you for the response, its quite the complicated thing to explain but I did manage to come right in the end using the indexing formula with the match formula as well.   =INDEX($B:$B;MATCH($C$2;$B:$B;0);):INDEX($N:$N;MATCH($C$2;$B:$B;0)+$C$3-1;)   at first it was confusing but I'm good now 
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Francis
Francis
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how do I update sum range by using helper cell...For example: if initial sum range is = C1 to M1, how to do change sum range if new data is up to AB1 using a helper cell, instead of changing the formula manually?
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Ibrahim
Ibrahim
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What if the rage is not column, but a row?
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Rob
Rob     Ibrahim
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That's a bit trickier as I just found out. You need to use a combination of the CHAR function to convert a number to a letter, CONCAT to piece together a letter and number comprising a cell address, and the INDIRECT function to recognize strings as cell addresses.

In my example, I wrote the following expression:

=SUM(INDIRECT(CONCAT("F",ROW())):INDIRECT(CONCAT(CHAR(64+5+$B$31),ROW())))


where:
Row() is the current row
$B$31 is the cell where the # of columns to count is stored
5 is the offset for the first column to be counted

if you need to go beyond column Z, you’d need a less intuitive variant on that expression using the ADDRESS function:

=SUM(indirect(concat("F",row())):indirect(ADDRESS(row(),$B$31+5,4)))


where:
4 indicates a relative reference
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Xander
Xander
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Hi quick question. My formula =SUMIFS(DATA!$D$5:$D$13914,DATA!$E$5:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("$E$",C3)),"<"&"1/1/2016") has a range that is from another tab called "DATA." I keep getting #VALUE! errors for this formula. Any suggestions? thanks!
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Cathy
Cathy
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Earlier I posted: Great formula but why does it only work when referring to the first cell. In other words, if you move the whole range down and the first cell in the range is A5 instead of A1, the formula ceases to work.
After playing with it, I figured out why the formula is not working when the starting row is not row 1. Excel interprets this as the range being A1 thru A4. If you are starting with a different row than row 1, here is how to modify the formula assuming the range now starts with A5:=MAX(A5:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",ROW(A5)+B2)))
This works because the concatenation sees the row reference as fixed in the first example, but it becomes relative in the second example. Hope that helps!
Jared - You can just subtract 4 instead of adding. =MAX(A5:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",ROW(A5)-B2))) [Assuming you have 4 in cell B2, or you could just leave the formula as is and put -4 in cell B2.]
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Sunny
Sunny     Cathy
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Hi，cathy, thanks for your supplement, I have test your formula, I think the correct formula may be =MAX(A5:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",ROW(A5)+B2-1))). I have update the tutorual. Thanks again.
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Cathy
Cathy
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Great formula but why does it only work when referring to the first cell. In other words, if you move the whole range down and the first cell in the range is A6 instead of A1, the formula ceases to work. That seems strange.
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Jared
Jared
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What if I want to count upward from a cell rather than downward? In the above example, the formula starts with A1 and goes downward. Let's say I want a range of 4 cells, beginning with Cell A10 and going to A6. Thank you!
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Cathy
Cathy     Jared
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Jared - See my most recent post for how to solve this.
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Marco
Marco     Cathy
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I'm having this upward problem also but unable to see your other post for the solution. Can you give me link of the post please? Many thanks!
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Sunny
Sunny     Marco
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Hi, here is a formula may help you to calcualte upward.
=AVERAGE(INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",COUNT(A:A)-B1+1)):INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("A",COUNT(A:A))))
A:A is the column that you want to calcualte the average values, B1 is the cell that define the range in column A to calculate.
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Marco
Marco     Sunny
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Thanks, but may I know why need to use "-B1+1" please?
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Sunny
Sunny     Marco
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Hi, Let me take a detailed example to explain it for you. There are 10 rows in column A, I want to get the last 2 values' average, in other words, average the values in row 9 and row 10. Now B1 contains 2, =COUNT(A:A)-B1+1 will get the result 9, COUNT(A:A) will get the result 10 (the last row of the column A). Now combine other functions to averaget the values in row 9 and row 10. Hope this can help you.
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Ryan Sojak
Ryan Sojak
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Can I use this syntax while referring to a different sheet?
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Narendra
Narendra     Ryan Sojak
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If you want to sum referring to a Different Shet In CONCATENATE formula write [ SHEET NAME+COLUMN+ROW]
Formula=SUM(INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("Sheet1!","D",1)):INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("Sheet1!","D",5)))
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Jad
Jad
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Hi, Thank you so much for your help, but I have a small problem that is I don't have just one column but several ones (about 100 columns) is there a way to change the formula to accommodate the change in columns so O can get the sum for Columns A B C and so on. thanks for your help
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Sunny
Sunny     Jad
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Thank u for your message. If you want to sum first n values across multiple continuous columns, just change A to the last column you ues. EG, sum first 5 values across column A to column D, apply this formula =SUM(A1:INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("D",F2))).
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