Cheryl asks via e-mail,
I was wondering if you could help me figure out how to combine the round formula with the rank formula? I need to first round all the numbers and then rank them. I have tried various ways to do this but they aren’t working properly. I really don’t want to add a column to round and then rank because I need to do this round/rank many times for this particular spreadsheet. There are also merged columns which makes it even more challenging. Before I go through the painstaking efforts to insert columns to round, I thought I’d check with you.
Of course, just as any other excel formula problem, we can solve this with … strong coffee.
Well, I am kidding, but coffee along with array formulas seems to help.
How to write an excel array formula to round and sort a list?
Assuming the data is in range C3:C12, and B3:B12 has running numbers from 1 to 10, the below array formula,
=SMALL(ROUNDDOWN(C3:C12,0),B3:B12)
when entered in the range D3:D12 will round and sort the range of values in C3:C12.
Remember, first you should select the entire range D3:D12 and then type the formula (in first cell) and press ctrl + shift + enter to make it an array formula.
Update: Even better alternatives from commenters
Here are few interesting alternatives, thanks to our commeneters.
- =SMALL(ROUNDDOWN($B$1:$B$9,0),ROW(B1)), array enter in cell C1 and drag in the entire range. Thanks to Chrisham.
- Instead of using ROW() as Chrisham did above, we can also use ROWS() function. This will let you add rows on top without having to change formulas. Elias recommends using this formula: =SMALL(INDEX(INT($C$3:$C$12),0),ROWS($D$3:D3)). Thank you.
- Since we are only sorting numbers, it shouldn’t matter whether we sort and round or round and sort, as Jeff pointed. So, we can use the normal formula =ROUNDDOWN(SMALL($B$3:$B$12,ROWS(B$3:B3)),0) in cell C3 and copy in the entire range. Thanks Jeff
More resources: Learn excel array formulas | Online Help on Excel Formulas
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.