Mastering Excel: Your Guide to the CHOOSE Function

If you’ve ever tried to manage a business’s finances without using Microsoft Excel, you’ll understand why I often refer to it as the unsung hero of financial management. Excel isn’t just a spreadsheet tool; it’s a lifeline that keeps your numbers in check, your forecasts accurate, and your sanity intact.

Let me share a little story with you. A few years ago, I was working with a small business client who had been manually recording their financial data in notebooks. Yes, you read that right—notebooks! When I introduced them to the magic of Excel, their world was turned upside down—in the best possible way.

Suddenly, they could easily track their income and expenses, generate reports in seconds, and even predict future trends with a fair degree of accuracy. It was like watching someone discover fire for the first time, reinforcing my belief in Excel’s power.

Now that we’ve established the importance of Excel in managing business finances let’s dive into one of its many game-changing features: the CHOOSE function. While it might not be as well-known as SUM or AVERAGE, the CHOOSE function is a versatile tool that can simplify complex calculations and streamline your financial management process.

So buckle up, dear reader, as we embark on this exciting journey to master the CHOOSE function in Excel!

Understanding the Excel CHOOSE Function

First things first, let’s get to know our star of the day a little better. The CHOOSE function in Excel is like your personal assistant, always ready to fetch you exactly what you need. It works on an index number and delivers a value from a list of values that you provide. In simpler terms, you tell CHOOSE which item you want (by giving it a number), and it gets it from the list.

Think of the CHOOSE function as an overeager butler at a fancy dinner party. You’re seated at a long table filled with mouth-watering dishes, but they’re all out of your reach. That’s where your trusty butler, Mr. CHOOSE, comes in. You whisper to him, “I’ll have the third dish, please,” and voila! He scurries off and returns with your chosen dish.

No need for you to stretch across the table or risk knocking over the expensive china. Just sit back, relax, and let Mr. CHOOSE handle the rest.

You might be thinking, “That’s all well and good, but why is this a game-changer?” Let me illustrate with a real-world business example. Imagine you run a chain of stores and want to analyze your sales data by location. You could have hundreds of rows of data, with each row representing a store. Instead of manually searching for the data of each store, you could use the CHOOSE function to select the data based on the store number.

This saves you time and effort, and ensures accuracy in your analysis. And as we all know, in the world of business finance, time is money!

So there you have it. The CHOOSE function, in all its humble glory, makes, your life easier one cell at a time. Stick around as we delve deeper into how to use this function to its full potential. Trust me, you’ll be thanking Mr. CHOOSE in no time!

easily track their income and expenses

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the CHOOSE Function In Excel

Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves and get down to business. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the CHOOSE function in Excel.

Step 1:

Open your Excel spreadsheet and select the cell where you want the result of the CHOOSE function to appear.

Step 2:

Type =CHOOSE( into the selected cell. You’ll see a helpful little prompt from Excel looking something like the following formula:

= CHOOSE (index_number,value1,value2,…)

• index_number – The position of the value to return can be any number between 1 and 254. You can choose a cell reference or another formula for the index value.
• values – You can choose from a list of up to 254 values. The first lookup value is required, but the following arguments are optional. These can be numbers, text values, cell references, formulas, or defined names.

Step 3:

Now, it’s time to fill in the blanks.

The index_num is the number corresponding to the item you want Mr. CHOOSE to fetch for you.

The value arguments: value1, value2, etc., are the items on your list, from which Mr. CHOOSE will pick. For example, if you type =CHOOSE(3, "Apples", "Bananas", "Cherries", "Dates"), Mr. CHOOSE will scurry off and return with “Cherries”!

Now, we’ve had our fun, but let’s talk about some common mistakes to avoid when using the CHOOSE formula.

Mistake 1: Make sure your index_num is within the range of your list. If you ask for item number 5 from a list of only 4 items, Mr. CHOOSE will be left scratching his head, and Excel will give you an error message.

Mistake 2: Remember that Mr. CHOOSE is very literal. If you ask for item number 2.5, he won’t know whether to bring you item number 2 or 3. So, always use whole numbers for your index_num.

CHOOSE Function Excel Template Plus Examples

Excel Workbook

Example 1 – Beginner

In the first example, we will learn how to use CHOOSE with a list hardcoded inside the formula and a list referenced outside the formula.

For the first formula, we enter CHOOSE, the position we want to pull (3), and then the list is separated by commas. Remember that the list’s text needs to be surrounded by parentheses.

For the second CHOOSE formula, we try to enter a range of F12:F16, including the list, but it returns a #VALUE error. A comma must separate each item in the list for this function. This means that if you are using the range of F12:F16, the entire range is the first value. To turn this into a list, we must set it up as F9, F10, etc.

Your turn: Use the workbook and CHOOSE to follow the examples in blue and finish the practice formulas highlighted in green

Your turn: Use the workbook and CHOOSE to follow the examples in blue and finish the practice formulas highlighted in green

Example 2 – Intermediate

In the second example, we will use CHOOSE as a creative way to replace nested IF Functions. Since the position number needs an integer, we can return true and false statements within the position and then add them up as the position.

In this case, we want to pull the text description for a certain score. We build the scores into the position number as true and false statements (B9>0 would equal 1 when B9 is 22). In the first example for 22, three statements return a true value of 1, which makes the position number 3, which returns “Good.” In the second example for 33, there are 4 true statements which returns “Very Good.”

Your turn: Use the CHOOSE function excel template to follow the examples in blue and finish the practice formulas highlighted in green

Example 3 – Advanced

In the final example, we are going to use CHOOSE to look left in a VLOOKUP. If you have worked with LOOKUP functions before, you know that they can usually only look right or down, the starting range has to be the first row or column.

In this example, we have store numbers by location. We want to reference a location, but it is the second column. Yes, we could just manually flip the columns, but where is the fun in that.

If you try to run a VLOOKUP on this, it returns an #N/A error as it cant look to the left. CHOOSE to the rescue!

We can use the CHOOSE formula to replace the second argument (range) in VLOOKUP and “flip” the columns for the purpose of the formula by creating an index. We input position numbers of {1,2} where the brackets create an index. Then we reverse the column order. The rest of the VLOOKUP is created as normal. This correctly returns store number 234 for Chicago.

Your turn: Use the workbook to follow the CHOOSE Function examples in blue and finish the practice formulas highlighted in green

Advanced Tips and Tricks with the CHOOSE Function

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s level up our game with some advanced tips and tricks for the CHOOSE function in Excel. These are the kind of insider secrets that separate the novices from the Excel wizards, so pay close attention!

Tip 1:

Did you know that you can use the CHOOSE function with other functions? That’s right! Mr. CHOOSE is a team player. For example, you could combine CHOOSE with the MATCH function to create a dynamic lookup formula that makes VLOOKUP look like child’s play.

To illustrate, imagine your spreadsheet is a bustling city, and each cell is a building. You’re looking for specific information—the proverbial needle in the haystack. Instead of searching building by building (or cell by cell), you could ask Mr. CHOOSE and his buddy Mr. MATCH to find it for you.

Just give them a description of what you’re looking for (using the MATCH function), and they’ll zip off, scanning each row and column until they find the perfect match. It’s like having your own personal detective duo!

Tip 2:

You can also use the CHOOSE function to return ranges or arrays, not just single values. This is like sending Mr. CHOOSE off with a shopping list instead of asking for one item at a time. It’s a great way to save time and keep your formulas tidy.

Quick Recap

Well, dear reader, we’ve come a long way together on our journey to mastering the Excel CHOOSE Function. We’ve met Mr. CHOOSE, our trusty butler, and learned how he can fetch us whatever we need from our list of values. We’ve dined at elaborate dinner parties, explored bustling cities, and even solved Rubik’s Cubes—all to understand this powerful tool.

We learned how to use the CHOOSE function, step by step, and discussed common mistakes to avoid. Remember, always use whole numbers for your index_num, and make sure it’s within the range of your list. We also delved into some advanced tips and tricks, discovering how Mr. CHOOSE can team up with other functions and handle shopping lists of items.

But our adventure doesn’t end here. Excel is a vast ocean of functions waiting to be discovered. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and remember—every expert was once a beginner. And while the road to mastery may be challenging, the rewards are well worth the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the choose match function in Excel?

The CHOOSE MATCH function in Excel is a combination of two separate functions: CHOOSE and MATCH. The MATCH function searches for a specified item in a range of cells and returns its relative position. The CHOOSE function then uses this position to select and return a value from a list of values. Together, these functions can be used to create dynamic lookup formulas.

What is the difference between VLOOKUP and choose?

VLOOKUP and CHOOSE are both Excel functions that perform lookups, but they work slightly differently. The VLOOKUP function searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.

On the other hand, CHOOSE uses an index number to return a value from a list of values. While VLOOKUP is limited to vertical lookups, CHOOSE can be used for both horizontal and vertical lookups.

What is the Excel CHOOSE Function?

The CHOOSE function in Excel is a lookup and reference function that returns a value from a list of values, based on a given position or index. The values provided to CHOOSE can be hard-coded constants or cell references. It can also return ranges or arrays, not just single values.

How do I use the Choose function in Vlookup?

You can use the CHOOSE function inside a VLOOKUP to return a value from multiple tables. This essentially allows you to perform a VLOOKUP across multiple tables. To do this, you would use the CHOOSE function to create a virtual table within the VLOOKUP function.

Why isn’t my CHOOSE function working?

If your CHOOSE function isn’t working, it could be due to a few common mistakes. Make sure your index number is a whole number and falls within the range of your list. If the index number is outside the range of the list or is not a whole number, Excel will return an error.

What is the difference between index and choose in Excel?

While both INDEX and CHOOSE are Excel functions that can return a value based on a given position, they differ in how they handle the input data. The INDEX function works with ranges and arrays, while the CHOOSE function works with a list of individual values. Additionally, INDEX can return a value from a two-dimensional range or array, while CHOOSE is limited to one dimension.

How do you use the CHOOSE formula in Excel?

You use the CHOOSE formula in Excel by typing =CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], ...) into a cell. The index_num specifies which value argument is selected and must be a number between 1 and the number of options you provide. The value1, value2, etc., are the options from which CHOOSE will pick. For example, if you type =CHOOSE(2, "Red", "Blue", "Green"), Excel will return “Blue”.

Have any questions? Are there other topics you would like us to cover? Leave a comment below and let us know! Also, remember to subscribe to our Newsletter to receive exclusive financial news in your inbox. Thanks for reading, and happy learning!