When the formula is copied down, it returns an index for each column listed in column H. Getting an index like this is useful when you want to refer to table columns by index in other formulas, like VLOOKUP, INDEX and MATCH, etc. The only trick to the formula is the use of a structured reference to return a range for the table headers to the MATCH function: The nice thing about this reference is that it will automatically adjust to any changes in the table. Even when columns are added or removed, the reference will continue to return the correct range.
Dave Bruns
Hi - I’m Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.
