Get last text value in a column
Suppose you have a list of data that contains numbers, dates, text, errors and Boolean values (TRUE and FALSE), to get the last text value from the list, a formula based on the INDEX and MATCH functions can do you a favor.
How to retrieve the last text value in a list?
To retrieve the last text value in the list as shown above, the INDEX and MATCH functions will help you in this way: The MATCH function that was set to perform an exact match locates the position of the last text value. INDEX will then retrieve the value at that position.
Generic syntax
=INDEX(range,MATCH("*",range,-1))
√ Note: The lookup value "*" can match any number of characters. It does not match errors, numbers or Boolean values (TURE and FALSE).
- range: The list (one-column range) where to return the last text value from.
To retrieve the last text value in the list, please copy or enter the formula below in the cell E4, and press Enter to get the result:
=INDEX(range,MATCH("*",range,-1))
Explanation of the formula
=INDEX(B4:B15,MATCH("*",B4:B15,-1))
- MATCH("*",B4:B15,-1): The match_type -1 forces the MATCH function to return the position of the last text value in the range B4:B15. So, the function will return 8.
- INDEX(B4:B15,MATCH("*",B4:B15,-1)) = INDEX(B4:B15,8): The INDEX function then returns the 8th value from the range B4:B15, which is Office Tab.
Related functions
The Excel INDEX function returns the displayed value based on a given position from a range or an array.
The Excel MATCH function searches for a specific value in a range of cells, and returns the relative position of the value.
Related Formulas
Get first text value in a column
To retrieve the first text value from a one-column range, you can use a formula based on INDEX and MATCH functions as well as a formula based on the VLOOKUP function.
Get first non-blank value in a column or row
To retrieve the first value (the first cell that is not blank, ignoring errors) from a one-column or one-row range, you can use a formula based on INDEX and MATCH functions. However, if you don’t want to ignore the errors from your range, you can add an ISBLANK function to the above formula.
Retrieve information associated with lowest n values
To retrieve data that are corresponding to the smallest, 2nd smallest, or nth smallest value in a list, table or row in Excel, you can use an INDEX and MATCH formula together with the SMALL function.
Get information corresponding to maximum value
To retrieve data that are corresponding to the maximum value in a list, table or row in Excel, you can use an INDEX and MATCH formula together with the MAX function.
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