The big deal is the INDEX formula is simply AWESOME! Put it together with MATCH and you have an even powerful formula which I call the INDEX + MATCH combo.
Any budding data analysts out there I urge you to learn INDEX + MATCH combo – it’s powerful and nimble. Actually I am going to refer you to Daniel Ferry’s foundational article The Imposing INDEX . It just can’t be said better than Daniel says it. When I read this article I made it my business to learn to use it.
His opening lines are:
From my perspective, the Excel INDEX function is the single most important in the roster of Microsoft Excel functions.
Now that might be surprising considering the function’s humdrum name, but please pay close attention, because INDEX is one of the magical secrets of how to use Excel!
This is worth reading!