I hate INDIRECT
INDIRECT does nothing but break my excel sheets and almost always can be replaced with XLOOKUP. I hate INDIRECT
Trending Content - Off Topic Forum
| +96 | Bathroom War Crimes | 22 | 14h |
| +57 | for you youngins (under 40, ideally under 30), what do you want out of life? | 34 | 5h |
| +51 | We all should've gotten in tech | 28 | 4h |
| +30 | Stealth-Listening Devices | 8 | 17h |
| +13 | Totally random question | 6 | 1d |
| +12 | Companies with products that track terminal/analytics desktop usage | 1 | 4d |
| +12 | Pickleball Manhattan | 4 | 20h |
| +9 | Ordering Valium Online: Key Considerations | 0 | 3d |
| +8 | LinkedIn Shitposts | 3 | 2d |
| +7 | my advisor looks a little too good | 7 | 2d |
Career Resources
Based on the most helpful WSO content, INDIRECT can indeed be a polarizing function. While it has its uses, such as quoting data from multiple sheets with the same format or dynamically referencing ranges, it can also lead to issues like broken references when sheets or workbooks are moved or renamed. This fragility often makes it less reliable for long-term or complex models.
XLOOKUP, on the other hand, is a more robust and versatile function for finding values in a table or range. It’s a modern replacement for VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, offering features like searching both vertically and horizontally, handling errors more gracefully, and allowing for dynamic range lookups without the same risks as INDIRECT.
If INDIRECT is causing more harm than good in your workflows, sticking to XLOOKUP or other alternatives like INDEX-MATCH might be a better choice for maintaining stability in your Excel sheets.
For portfolio rollups it is the best. like too many slides to link to individually
The "INDIRECT" function in Excel can be seen as problematic in certain contexts due to its reliance on string manipulation and the subsequent complications that arise from it. One significant drawback is that it does not allow for dynamic changes to cell references based on worksheet edits. This means that if a user renames a worksheet or changes the structure of the data, any formulas using the "INDIRECT" function may break or return errors without a clear indication of why. The lack of error handling can cause frustration for users who rely heavily on maintaining integrity in their data references.
Another issue is the performance impact associated with the "INDIRECT" function. Since it calculates references in a non-standard way, it can slow down spreadsheet performance, especially in large workbooks with many indirect references. This delay in recalculation can hinder productivity and lead to inefficiencies, particularly when working with real-time data where speed is essential.
Furthermore, the "INDIRECT" function can create confusion for users, especially those who are not highly experienced with Excel. The requirement for entering references as text strings can lead to syntax errors or misinterpretations of the desired ranges. As a result, users might find themselves spending more time troubleshooting and correcting errors instead of focusing on their analysis. Overall, while the "INDIRECT" function has its uses, these potential drawbacks can make it seem terrible in certain scenarios, particularly for complex or dynamic projects.
chat gpt is getting better
LLMs coming for us all, even on the anon finance bro forums
Maybe others use INDIRECT for more things than I do, but I don't think XLOOKUP can take tab names as an input to a text building formula, can it? I agree, it's difficult to audit, and it's volatile, but I'm not aware of a better way to build formulas that take tab names as an input.
There unfortunately does not exist a single other formula outside of macros that can let you reference cells in other sheets outside of indirect.
Necessitatibus id aliquam omnis adipisci ipsum est. At ipsum odit voluptatem officiis modi porro et voluptates. Nostrum harum magni magni repellendus doloremque consectetur.
Similique adipisci esse et itaque. Saepe soluta vero provident enim neque provident. Qui sed maiores aut voluptas aliquam. Et iure dolor enim quia dolor facere eius. Quo inventore quas quibusdam commodi.
Voluptatum culpa qui impedit eos eveniet saepe voluptatem. Quis ea quo cupiditate inventore qui. Excepturi at mollitia qui doloremque. Error ut in voluptatem corrupti in non corrupti sit. Unde sint quo et officiis aut quia nulla.
Sed nihil alias nemo ut veniam quisquam. Possimus sapiente id accusamus exercitationem eligendi nostrum. Qui et maiores error laboriosam labore tempora est. Debitis ut et totam ut sunt. Est numquam facere molestiae voluptas aut quod et dicta. Natus ea dolore eos beatae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...