Uses index_num to return a value from the list of value arguments. Use CHOOSE to select one of up to 29 values based on the index number. For example, if value1 through value7 are the days of the week, CHOOSE returns one of the days when a number between 1 and 7 is used as index_num.
Syntax
CHOOSE(index_num,value1,value2,...)
Index_num specifies which value argument is selected. Index_num must be a number between 1 and 29, or a formula or reference to a cell containing a number between 1 and 29.
If index_num is 1, CHOOSE returns value1; if it is 2, CHOOSE returns value2; and so on.
If index_num is less than 1 or greater than the number of the last value in the list, CHOOSE returns the #VALUE! error value.
If index_num is a fraction, it is truncated to the lowest integer before being used.
Value1,value2,... are 1 to 29 value arguments from which CHOOSE selects a value or an action to perform based on index_num. The arguments can be numbers, cell references, defined names, formulas, functions, or text.
Remarks
For example, the formula:
=SUM(CHOOSE(2,A1:A10,B1:B10,C1:C10))
evaluates to:
=SUM(B1:B10)
which then returns a value based on the values in the range B1:B10.
The CHOOSE function is evaluated first, returning the reference B1:B10. The SUM function is then evaluated using B1:B10, the result of the CHOOSE function, as its argument.
Example 1
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?
- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
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Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
Data | Data |
---|---|
1st | Nails |
2nd | Screws |
3rd | Nuts |
Finished | Bolts |
Formula | Description (Result) |
=CHOOSE(2,A2,A3,A4,A5) | Value from the second argument A3 (2nd) |
=CHOOSE(4,B2,B3,B4,B5) | Value from the fourth argument B5 (Bolts) |
Example 2
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?
- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
![]()
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
Data | |
---|---|
23 | |
45 | |
12 | |
10 | |
Formula | Description (Result) |
=SUM(A2:CHOOSE(2,A3,A4,A5)) | Sums the range A2:A4 (80) |