To refer to a table or parts of it in a formula, you can use table references. You need to provide a table name and each column header when you convert your data to a table. You can use these names to reference cells in the table.
For example, instead of explicit cell references: =Sum(C2:C7), you can use table references: =SUM(DeptSales[Sales Amount]).
When you use a name to reference table elements, the references update when you add or remove data from the table.
Syntax & sample usage
Tip: Each example is in its own tab.
Syntax
You can use table references to refer to:
- A Table column:
Table1[Column 1]- Across single columns:
Table1[[#ALL],[Column 1]] - Across multiple columns simultaneously:
Table1[[#ALL],[Column 1]:[Column 3]]
- Across single columns:
- Full table columns with column headers, data, and footers:
Table1[#ALL] - Table headers:
Table1[#HEADERS] - Table footers:
Table1[#TOTALS] - Table data and headers:
Table1[[#HEADERS],[#DATA]] - Table data and footers without headers:
Table1[[#DATA],[#TOTALS]] - Table data without headers and footers:
Table1orTable1[#DATA]
Tip: #This Row currently is not supported
Sample usage
Use table references in a formula:
- SUM:
SUM(Table1[Column1]) - IMPORTRANGE:
IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/abcd123abcd123", "DeptSales[Sales Amount]")
Use table references with chip extraction syntax: IF(Table1[Column 1]="","",Table1[Column 1].[file name])
Learn more about extracting data from smart chips in your Google Sheets.
- Always use tables: If you have structured data, convert it into a table. This unlocks the power of table references and many other table features.
- To convert data into a table: At the top, in the menu bar, click Format
Convert to table.
- To convert data into a table: At the top, in the menu bar, click Format
- Create meaningful table names: To make your formulas clear, give descriptive names to your tables.
- Table names must follow certain rules and format requirements. Learn how to create table names in Google Sheets.
- In formulas, spaces are replaced with underscores. For example,
Sales_Tracker[Sales Amount].
- Turn on suggestions: To help you complete formulas with the relevant functions, turn on autocomplete, formula corrections, and formula suggestions.
- At the top of the sheet, in the menu bar, click Tools
- Select all of the following:
- Enable autocomplete
- Enable formula corrections
- Enable formula suggestions
- At the top of the sheet, in the menu bar, click Tools
- Use ARRAYFORMULA when applicable: To retrieve the values of an entire table or a range, use ARRAYFORMULA:
ARRAYFORMULA(Table1)ARRAYFORMULA(Table1[Column1])
- Follow table reference syntax:
- Use brackets around specifiers, such as table names and column names.
- To improve readability, use space characters in formulas. For example,
=SUM( Table1[ [#ALL],[Column 1]:[Column 2] ] )
These features don’t currently support the use of table references when you select a range:
- Conditional formatting
- Charts
- Pivot tables
