We know that using VLOOKUP, we can find a value corresponding to a given item. For example Sales of x. But what if you have multiple sales for each item and you want the last value?
Today lets understand how to find the last date of an activity, given data like this:
[Note: thanks to SDK who asked this question in a comment]
Like everything else in Excel, there are multiple ways to finding last date. If cats can use computers, they would hate Excel. You see, Excel is overflowing with unlimited ways to skin a cat.
Method 1: Using LOOKUP formula
Assuming the data is in range,
- Dates in $C$3:$F$3
- x marks in C4:F4
We can use =LOOKUP(“y”, C4:F4, $C$3:$F$3) to find the last date.
Why find y? Simple, since our data has “x” against date & name combinations, we just find the next letter (y). So LOOKUP formula stops looking after finding the last x. You see, LOOKUP formula assumes the list is sorted, so if it cannot find a match (in our case – y), it would return the closest match (ie, the last x).
Related: Comprehensive guide to Excel VLOOKUP & other LOOKUP formulas.
Method 2: Using MAX & SUMPRODUCT
I am like Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie. SUMPRODUCT is my Windex. I use it for tough data, complex questions, sores, minor ailments & occasional car dents.
In this case, a formula like =SUMPRODUCT(MAX(($C$3:$F$3)*(C4:F4=”x”))) would do the job.
To be honest, just MAX(($C$3:$F$3)*(C4:F4=”x”)) would do too, but then you have to CTRL+Shift+Enter it.
How does it work? Since dates are just numbers, we take the dates & multiply them wherever there is x. So, it would be,
{41091,41092,41093,41094}*{TRUE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE}
Which will be,
{41091,41092,0,0}
Then we find the maximum of this, which is 41092 (the number corresponding to 2-jul-2012).
Since this is an array operation, we can either CTRL+Shift+Enter it or wrap it inside SUMPRODUCT, like the G(r)eeks do. And that gives the answer.
More on this: Writing MAXIF formula in Excel, Introduction to SUMPRODUCT
Download Example Workbook
Click here to download example workbook. I have a bonus homework form you in there. Go ahead and solve it.
Your Homework
Time for a quiz. How would you find last date for a given name, if your data is like this?
Go ahead and share your answer.
11 Responses to “Fix Incorrect Percentages with this Paste-Special Trick”
I've just taught yesterday to a colleague of mine how to convert amounts in local currency into another by pasting special the ROE.
great thing to know !!!
Chandoo - this is such a great trick and helps save time. If you don't use this shortcut, you have to take can create a formula where =(ref cell /100), copy that all the way down, covert it to a percentage and then copy/paste values to the original column. This does it all much faster. Nice job!
I was just asking peers yesterday if anyone know if an easy way to do this, I've been editing each cell and adding a % manually vs setting the cell to Percentage for months and just finally reached my wits end. What perfect timing! Thanks, great tip!
If it's just appearance you care about, another alternative is to use this custom number format:
0"%"
By adding the percent sign in quotes, it gets treated as text and won't do what you warned about here: "You can not just format the cells to % format either, excel shows 23 as 2300% then."
Dear Jon S. You are the reason I love the internet. 3 year old comments making my life easier.
Thank you.
Here is a quicker protocol.
Enter 10000% into the extra cell, copy this cell, select the range you need to convert to percentages, and use paste special > divide. Since the Paste > All option is selected, it not only divides by 10000% (i.e. 100), it also applies the % format to the cells being pasted on.
@Martin: That is another very good use of Divide / Multiply operations.
@Tony, @Jody: Thank you 🙂
@Jon S: Good one...
@Jon... now why didnt I think of that.. Excellent
Thank You so much. it is really helped me.
Big help...Thanks
Thanks. That really saved me a lot of time!
Is Show Formulas is turned on in the Formula Ribbon, it will stay in decimal form until that is turned off. Drove me batty for an hour until I just figured it out.