Features are key elements of spreadsheet functions like Google Sheets. However when you seldom use them, otherwise you’re simply starting, they will really feel overwhelming. For probably the most fundamental actions you’d carry out, listed here are a number of easy Google Sheets features.
Table of Contents
1. Add Numbers: SUM
It doesn’t get extra fundamental when working with numbers than including them. Utilizing the SUM
perform, you may add a number of numbers, add numbers in cells, or use a mix.
The syntax for the perform is SUM(value1, value2,...)
with value1
required and value2
optionally available.
So as to add the numbers 10, 20, and 30, you’d use the next components:
=SUM(10,20,30)
So as to add the numbers within the cells A1 via A5, you’d use this components:
=SUM(A1:A5)
2. Common Numbers: AVERAGE
Possibly you could view the common of numbers or numbers in a spread of cells. The AVERAGE
perform has you lined.
Much like calculating average in Excel, the syntax for the Google Sheets perform is AVERAGE(value1, value2,...)
with value1
required and value2
optionally available.
To search out the common of numbers 10, 20, and 30, you’d use the next components:
=AVERAGE(10,20,30)
To search out the common of the numbers in cells A1 via A5, use this components:
=AVERAGE(A1:A5)
Tip: You may as well see basic calculations without formulas in Google Sheets.
3. Depend Cells With Numbers: COUNT
When you’ve ever needed to depend cells, you’ll admire the COUNT
perform. With it, you may depend what number of cells in a spread include numbers.
The syntax for the perform is COUNT(value1, value2,...)
with value1
required and value2
optionally available.
To depend the cells A1 via A5, you’d use the next components:
=COUNT(A1:A5)
To depend the cells A1 via A5 and D1 via D5, use the next components:
=COUNT(A1:A5,D1:D5)
You may as well count data that matches criteria utilizing COUNTIF
in Google Sheets.
4. Enter the Present Date and Time: NOW and TODAY
If you wish to see the present date and time every time you open your Google Sheet, you need to use the NOW
or TODAY
perform. NOW
shows the date and time whereas TODAY
shows solely the present date.
The syntax for every is NOW()
and TODAY()
with no required arguments. Merely enter one or the opposite of the next in your sheet to show the date and time or simply the date.
NOW()
TODAY()
If you would like the dates to seem in a sure format, you may set the default date format in Google sheets.
5. Take away Non-Printable Characters: CLEAN
Whenever you import knowledge from one other location into your sheet, that knowledge can embody non-printable or ASCII characters like backspaces and returns. The CLEAN
perform removes each seen and invisible characters.
The syntax is CLEAN(textual content)
with the textual content required.
To take away the non-printable characters from the textual content in cell A1, you’d use this components:
=CLEAN(A1)
Observe: As a result of the perform removes the characters you may’t see in addition to these you may, you could not discover a distinction within the ensuing cell.
6. Take away White Area: TRIM
One other useful perform for tidying up your sheet is the TRIM
function. Identical to in Microsoft Excel, this perform removes the white areas in a cell.
The syntax is TRIM(textual content)
the place textual content can characterize a cell reference or the precise textual content.
To take away the white area in cell A1, you’d use the next components:
=TRIM(A1)
To take away the white area from ” take away additional area ” use this components:
=TRIM(" take away additional area ")
RELATED: How to Use the TRIM Function in Microsoft Excel
7. Mix Textual content or Values: CONCATENATE and CONCAT
To mix strings, textual content, or values, you need to use the CONCATENATE
and CONCAT
features. The primary distinction between the 2 is that CONCATENATE
provides extra flexibility. As an example, you may mix phrases and insert areas between them.
The syntax for every is CONCATENATE(string1, string2,...)
and CONCAT(value1, value2)
the place all arguments besides string2
are required.
To mix the values in cells A1 and B1, you need to use the next components:
=CONCATENATE(A1,B1)
To mix the phrases “How,” “To,” and “Geek” with areas, you’d use this components:
=CONCATENATE("How", " ", "To", " ", "Geek")
To mix the values Three and 5, you need to use the next components:
=CONCAT(3,5)
For extra particulars on these two features, check out our how-to for concatenating data in Google Sheets.
8. Insert an Picture in a Cell: IMAGE
Whereas Google Sheets supplies a characteristic for inserting an image into a cell, the IMAGE
perform provides you additional choices to resize it or set a customized peak and width in pixels.
The syntax for the perform is IMAGE(url, mode, peak, width)
with the URL required and the opposite arguments optionally available.
To insert a picture with a URL as it’s, you’d use the next components:
=IMAGE("https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/How-To_Geek_Logo.png")
To insert the identical picture resized with a customized peak and width, use this components:
=IMAGE("https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/How-To_Geek_Logo.png",4,50,200)
The 4
on this components is the mode that enables the customized dimension of the picture at 50 by 200 pixels.
Observe: You can’t use SVG graphics or URLs for photos in Google Drive.
For extra assist with tips on how to resize photos utilizing the perform, go to the Docs Editor Help page for the IMAGE function.
9. Validate an Electronic mail Handle or Hyperlink: ISEMAIL and ISURL
Whether or not importing or coming into knowledge in Google Sheets, you could need to confirm it’s what it’s purported to be. With ISEMAIL
and ISURL
, you may make sure the data is an email address or legitimate URL.
RELATED: How to Restrict Data to Email Addresses in Google Sheets
The syntax for every is ISEMAIL(worth)
and ISURL(worth)
the place you need to use a cell reference or textual content. The outcomes of the validation show as TRUE or FALSE.
To examine an e mail tackle in cell A1, you’d use the next components:
=ISEMAIL(A1)
To examine a URL in cell A1, use this components:
=ISURL(A1)
To make use of textual content within the components for both an e mail tackle or URL, merely enter it in quotes like this:
=ISURL("www.feedbasket.com")
To go even additional, check out tips on how to use the AND and OR functions, reap the benefits of the QUERY function, or begin utilizing the IF function in Google Sheets.