Recently, I had the opportunity to dive deeper into Excel’s advanced features, particularly focusing on dynamic arrays.

What Are Dynamic Arrays?

Dynamic arrays are a powerful feature in Excel that allow formulas to return arrays of variable size. Unlike traditional array formulas, dynamic arrays automatically spill their results into adjacent cells. This makes working with arrays more efficient and intuitive.

Key Points:

1. Spilling Behavior:
   • Dynamic array formulas spill their results into neighboring cells.
   • For example, if you sort a range using =SORT(D2:D11, 1, -1), the resulting array will automatically spill down from the top-left cell (e.g., F2) to F11.
2. Supported Versions:
   • Dynamic arrays are available in Excel 365 and Excel 2021.
   • Unfortunately, they are not available in Excel 2019 or earlier versions.
   • Legacy array formulas in older versions always return a fixed-size result.
3. Editing and Formula Overlap:
   • Only the first cell in the spill area is editable; other cells show the formula as “ghosted.”
   • Update the formula in the top-left cell, and Excel will update the rest of the spill area.
   • Avoid overlap with other data, as array formulas can’t spill if there’s a blockage.

Practical Example: Sorting Data

Suppose you have a list of sales data in column D (D2:D11). You want to sort this data in descending order and display the results in column F.

1. In cell F2, enter the formula: =SORT(D2:D11, 1, -1).
2. Press Enter. Excel will automatically spill the sorted array down to F11.

Now you have a dynamically sorted list of sales data!

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Where Can Dynamic Arrays Be Used?

Dynamic arrays are incredibly versatile. Here are some common use cases:

1. Sorting and Filtering: As shown in our example, dynamic arrays simplify sorting and filtering tasks.
2. Unique Values: Use UNIQUE to extract unique values from a range.
3. Aggregation: Aggregate data with functions like SUM, AVERAGE, or MAX.
4. Transposing Data: Easily transpose rows into columns or vice versa.
5. Dynamic Charts and Tables: Create dynamic charts and tables that adjust automatically as data changes.

Some more Examples:

1. UNIQUE:
   • Returns a list of unique values from a range.
   • Example: =UNIQUE(B2:B10) extracts all unique product names from a list.
2. FILTER:
   • Filters records based on criteria.
   • Example: =FILTER(A2:D10, (C2:C10="Electronics")*(D2:D10>100), "") filters data based on category and quantity.
3. SORT:
   • Sorts values in a range.
   • Example: =SORT(A2:A10, 1, TRUE) sorts customer names alphabetically.
4. SORTBY:
   • Sorts values based on another list or array.
   • Example: =SORTBY(A2:A10, B2:B10, -1) sorts products by revenue.
5. SEQUENCE:
   • Generates a sequential list of numbers.
   • Example: =SEQUENCE(10) creates an array of numbers from 1 to 10.
6. TRANSPOSE:
   • Transposes rows into columns and vice versa.
   • Example: =TRANSPOSE(A2:D2) converts a row of data into a column.
7. INDEX and MATCH (combined):
   • Retrieves values based on row and column criteria.
   • Example: =INDEX(B2:D10, MATCH("Product C", A2:A10, 0), 3) fetches the price of “Product C.”
8. CONCAT:
   • Combines text from multiple cells.
   • Example: =CONCAT(A2:A10, ", ") joins customer names with commas.
9. SEQUENCE with ROWS and COLUMNS:
   • Creates a matrix of numbers.
   • Example: =SEQUENCE(5, 3) generates a 5x3 grid of sequential numbers.
10. LET:
    • Defines a variable within a formula.
    • Example: =LET(x, 5, x^2) calculates the square of 5.

Remember, dynamic arrays empower you to handle complex tasks efficiently. Feel free to explore these functions further, and let me know if you find these helpful.