← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Feeding a chart from a selected cell with INDEX and MATCH

MATCH finds the row of the item chosen in the selector cell A13. INDEX returns that whole row into a helper range, and the chart plots the helper range, so it updates when the choice changes.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 64

Understanding Feeding a chart from a selected cell with INDEX and MATCH in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: XLOOKUP finds A13 in A2:A10 and returns the matching row from B2:M10, so it does the job of INDEX and MATCH in one function. The chart plots the helper range B13:M13, which holds the INDEX result. When the selector changes, the helper cells change and the chart updates. MATCH takes the value to find first (A13), then the list to search (A2:A10). The 0 means exact match. A column number of 0 makes INDEX return every column in that row. This gives the chart a full row of values to plot. INDEX searches the data block B2:M10. MATCH searches the item names in A2:A10 for the selector value.

Common mistakes: The last MATCH argument must be 0 for an exact match. Type 1 does an approximate match on sorted data and can return the wrong row for names. It should be =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0). The column number 1 returns only one value from column B. Using 0 as the column number returns the whole row for the chart. It should be =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0).

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 413–424) and word search (Modules 413–451).

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Learning
Duo
Which formula finds the row number of the item chosen in selector cell A13 within A2:A10?
=MATCH(A2:A10,A13,0)=MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0)
Matches
=MATCH(A13,A2:A10,1)
↓
The match type is 1, which expects sorted data and may return a wrong row. It should be 0 for an exact match.
Applying
Meanings
Term
=INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Meaning
MATCH finds the row of the item chosen in the selector cell A13. INDEX returns that whole row into a helper range, and the chart plots the helper range, so it updates when the choice changes.
Practice
=SUM(INDEX(B2:D9,MATCH("Mia",A2:A9,0),0))
Testing
Gaps
=(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Check Answer
Spots
1B13: =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,1)
2B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0)

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Quick Questions

1. Which formula finds the row number of the item chosen in selector cell A13 within A2:A10?
A. =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0) ✓
B. =MATCH(A2:A10,A13,0)
MATCH takes the value to find first (A13), then the list to search (A2:A10). The 0 means exact match.
2. What does the 0 at the end of =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0) do?
A. It asks for an exact match ✓
B. It returns the first row of the list
The last argument 0 means exact match. Without it, MATCH can return the wrong row on unsorted data.
3. In =INDEX(B2:M10,row,0), what does the 0 for the column argument tell INDEX to do?
A. Return the whole row ✓
B. Return the first column only
A column number of 0 makes INDEX return every column in that row. This gives the chart a full row of values to plot.
4. Why does the chart point to the small helper range instead of the full table?
A. The helper range makes the full table smaller and faster to load
B. The helper range changes when the selector changes, so the chart updates ✓
The chart plots the helper range. INDEX and MATCH refill it with the chosen item's row, so the chart updates automatically.
5. Which formula correctly pulls the whole row for the item in A13 into the helper range?
A. =INDEX(A2:A10,MATCH(A13,B2:M10,0),0)
B. =INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0) ✓
INDEX searches the data block B2:M10. MATCH searches the item names in A2:A10 for the selector value.

Match the Pairs

=MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0) → Finds which row of the list holds the item chosen in the selector cell A13. The 0 means exact match.
=INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0) → Returns the whole row of data for the selected item so a chart can plot it from a helper range.
Use XLOOKUP as an alternative that returns the whole row of values for the selector item → =XLOOKUP(A13,A2:A10,B2:M10)
Point the chart at the helper range that holds the selected row, not at the full table → Chart data range: B13:M13
=MATCH(A13,A2:A10,1) → The match type is 1, which expects sorted data and may return a wrong row. It should be 0 for an exact match.
=INDEX(B2:M10,A13,0) → A13 holds the item name, not a row number. INDEX needs MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0) to find the row number.

Key Term

=INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
MATCH finds the row of the item chosen in the selector cell A13. INDEX returns that whole row into a helper range, and the chart plots the helper range, so it updates when the choice changes.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Hint: Type the function that returns values from a chosen row of the data range into the helper range.
2. =INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Hint: Type the function that finds the row position of the item chosen in the selector cell.
3. =INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Hint: Type the match type number that asks for an exact match only.
4. =INDEX(B2:M10,MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0),0)
Hint: Type the column number that makes INDEX return the whole row instead of one cell.
5. =XLOOKUP(A13,A2:A10,B2:M10)
Hint: Type the newer lookup function that can do the find and return the whole row in one step, instead of INDEX and MATCH.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A B13: =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,1)
B B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0)
C Chart plots B14:M14
Line A — The last MATCH argument must be 0 for an exact match. Type 1 does an approximate match on sorted data and can return the wrong row for names. It should be =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0).
Question 2
A A13: Spain
B B13: =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0)
C B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,1)
Line C — The column number 1 returns only one value from column B. Using 0 as the column number returns the whole row for the chart. It should be =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0).
Question 3
A A13: Spain
B B13: =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0)
C B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,A13,0)
Line C — INDEX needs a row number, but A13 holds the text Spain, which causes an error. It should use B13, the row number that MATCH found.
Question 4
A A13: Spain
B B13: =MATCH(A2:A10,A13,0)
C B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0)
Line B — The MATCH arguments are the wrong way round. The first is the value to find (A13) and the second is the list to search (A2:A10). It should be =MATCH(A13,A2:A10,0).
Question 5
A A13: Spain
B B13: =MATCH(A13,A1:A10,0)
C B14: =INDEX(B2:M10,B13,0)
Line B — The lookup range A1:A10 includes the header row, so the row number is one too big and INDEX returns the next item's data. It should be A2:A10 to match B2:M10.

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