How to use the BYROW function

Table of Contents

1. Syntax
2. Arguments
3. Count the top 10 numbers in a cell range per row
4. Count the bottom 10 numbers in a cell range per row
5. Count the top 10 numbers in a cell range (column-wise) per row
6. Function not working
7. Get Excel *.xlsx file

Excel 365 formula in cell H4:

Explaining the formula

Step 1 - Calculate the 10th smallest number

The SMALL function returns the k-th smallest value from a group of numbers.

Function syntax: SMALL(array, k)

SMALL(B4:F13,10)

becomes

SMALL({527,79,121,76,128;219, ... ,241},10)

and returns 145.

Step 2 - Compare the 10th smallest number to all numbers in the cell range

The greater than sign lets you compare values in an Excel formula, this example shows the greater than sign and an equal sign combined.

These characters are logical operators, they return TRUE or FALSE.

B4:F13>=SMALL(B4:F13,10)

becomes

B4:F13<=701

becomes

{527,79,121,76,128;219, ... ,241}<=145

and returns

{FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE; FALSE,  ... , FALSE}

Step 3 - Replace boolean values with numerical values

The IF function returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.

Function syntax: IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])

IF(B4:F13<=SMALL(B4:F13,10),1,0)

becomes

IF({FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE; FALSE,  ... , FALSE},1,0)

and returns

{0, 1, 1, 1, 1;0,  ... , 0}.

Step 4 - Build the LAMBDA calculation

The SUM function allows you to add numerical values, the function returns the sum in the cell it is entered in. The SUM function is cleverly designed to ignore text and boolean values, adding only numbers.

Function syntax: SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

SUM(a)

Step 5 - Build the LAMBDA function

The LAMBDA function build custom functions without VBA, macros or javascript.

Function syntax: LAMBDA([parameter1, parameter2, …,] calculation)

LAMBDA(a,SUM(a))

Step 6 - Pass values to the LAMBDA function

BYROW(IF(B4:F13<=SMALL(B4:F13,10),1,0),LAMBDA(a,SUM(a)))

becomes

BYROW({0, 1, 1, 1, 1;0,  ... , 0},LAMBDA(a,SUM(a)))

and returns

{4; 1; 0; 1; 0; 1; 1; 0; 1; 1}.

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5. How to count the top 10 numbers in a cell range (column-wise) per row

The image above shows numbers in five columns #A to #E, each column has a separate built-in conditional formatting applied to it "Highlight top 10 items". It highlights the 10 largest values in blue to make this easier to spot and count to make sure the formula is correct.

This example demonstrates a formula that counts the top 10 numbers per row, this is now doable using the new BYCOL and BYROW functions. The first row (row 4) across columns #A to #E has no blue cells. The formula in cell H4 returns 0 (zero) for that particular row.

Excel 365 formula in cell H4:

Explaining the formula

Step 1 - Build the LAMBDA calculation

We are interested in calculating the 10th largest number in each column. The LARGE function is useful for this calculation.

The LARGE function calculates the k-th largest value from an array of numbers.

Function syntax: LARGE(array, k)

LARGE(a,10)

Step 2 - Build the LAMBDA function

The LAMBDA function build custom functions without VBA, macros or javascript.

Function syntax: LAMBDA([parameter1, parameter2, …,] calculation)

LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10))

Step 3 - Pass values to the LAMBDA function

The BYCOL function lets you pass an array to the LAMBDA function.

BYCOL(B4:F34,LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10)))

returns

{725,658,656,555,544}.

The 10th largest number in column #A is 725, 658 in column #B, and so on.

Step 4 - Check which numbers are greater than or equal to the 10th largest value

The greater than sign lets you compare values in an Excel formula, this example shows the greater than sign and an equal sign combined.

These characters are logical operators, they return TRUE or FALSE.

B4:F34>=BYCOL(B4:F34,LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10)))

becomes

B4:F34>={725,658,656,555,544}

and returns

{FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE; FALSE, ... , FALSE}

Step 5 - Convert boolean values to their numerical equivalents

The parentheses let you control the order of operation, we need to compare cell range B4:F34 to {725,658,656,555,544} before we convert the boolean values.

(B4:F34>=BYCOL(B4:F34,LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10))))*1

The asterisk character lets you multiply values in an Excel formula, it also works with boolean values. The result is their numerical equivalents:

TRUE - 1
FALSE - 0 (zero)

(B4:F34>=BYCOL(B4:F34,LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10))))*1

becomes

({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE; FALSE, ... , FALSE})*1

and returns

{0, 0, 0, 0, 0; 0, ... , 0}

Step 5 - Build another LAMBDA calculation

We are now going to sum numbers per row.

The SUM function allows you to add numerical values, the function returns the sum in the cell it is entered in. The SUM function is cleverly designed to ignore text and boolean values, adding only numbers.

Function syntax: SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

SUM(a)

Step 6 - Build another LAMBDA function

The LAMBDA function build custom functions without VBA, macros or javascript.

Function syntax: LAMBDA([parameter1, parameter2, …,] calculation)

LAMBDA(a,SUM(a))

Step 7 - Pass values to the LAMBDA function

The BYROW function lets you pass a row of values based on an array to the LAMBDA function.

BYROW((B4:F34>=BYCOL(B4:F34,LAMBDA(a,LARGE(a,10))))*1,LAMBDA(a,SUM(a)))

becomes

BYROW({0, 0, 0, 0, 0; 0, ... , 0},LAMBDA(a,SUM(a)))

and returns

{0; 0; 2; 1; 2; 0; 2; 4; 1; 0; 3; 3; 3; 2; 1; 1; 2; 0; 3; 0; 2; 1; 3; 2; 1; 2; 2; 2; 3; 0; 2}

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6. Function not working

The BYROW function propagates errors meaning an error is displayed if an error value is present in the source data.

6.1 Troubleshooting the error value

When you encounter an error value in a cell a warning symbol appears, displayed in the image above. Press with mouse on it to see a pop-up menu that lets you get more information about the error.

1. The first line describes the error if you press with left mouse button on it.
2. The second line opens a pane that explains the error in greater detail.
3. The third line takes you to the "Evaluate Formula" tool, a dialog box appears allowing you to examine the formula in greater detail.
4. This line lets you ignore the error value meaning the warning icon disappears, however, the error is still in the cell.
5. The fifth line lets you edit the formula in the Formula bar.
6. The sixth line opens the Excel settings so you can adjust the Error Checking Options.

Here are a few of the most common Excel errors you may encounter.

#NULL error - This error occurs most often if you by mistake use a space character in a formula where it shouldn't be. Excel interprets a space character as an intersection operator. If the ranges don't intersect an #NULL error is returned. The #NULL! error occurs when a formula attempts to calculate the intersection of two ranges that do not actually intersect. This can happen when the wrong range operator is used in the formula, or when the intersection operator (represented by a space character) is used between two ranges that do not overlap. To fix this error double check that the ranges referenced in the formula that use the intersection operator actually have cells in common.

#SPILL error - The #SPILL! error occurs only in version Excel 365 and is caused by a dynamic array being to large, meaning there are cells below and/or to the right that are not empty. This prevents the dynamic array formula expanding into new empty cells.

#DIV/0 error - This error happens if you try to divide a number by 0 (zero) or a value that equates to zero which is not possible mathematically.

#VALUE error - The #VALUE error occurs when a formula has a value that is of the wrong data type. Such as text where a number is expected or when dates are evaluated as text.

#REF error - The #REF error happens when a cell reference is invalid. This can happen if a cell is deleted that is referenced by a formula.

#NAME error - The #NAME error happens if you misspelled a function or a named range.

#NUM error - The #NUM error shows up when you try to use invalid numeric values in formulas, like square root of a negative number.

#N/A error - The #N/A error happens when a value is not available for a formula or found in a given cell range, for example in the VLOOKUP or MATCH functions.

#GETTING_DATA error - The #GETTING_DATA error shows while external sources are loading, this can indicate a delay in fetching the data or that the external source is unavailable right now.

6.2 The formula returns an unexpected value

To understand why a formula returns an unexpected value we need to examine the calculations steps in detail. Luckily, Excel has a tool that is really handy in these situations. Here is how to troubleshoot a formula:

1. Select the cell containing the formula you want to examine in detail.
2. Go to tab “Formulas” on the ribbon.
3. Press with left mouse button on "Evaluate Formula" button. A dialog box appears.
   The formula appears in a white field inside the dialog box. Underlined expressions are calculations being processed in the next step. The italicized expression is the most recent result. The buttons at the bottom of the dialog box allows you to evaluate the formula in smaller calculations which you control.
4. Press with left mouse button on the "Evaluate" button located at the bottom of the dialog box to process the underlined expression.
5. Repeat pressing the "Evaluate" button until you have seen all calculations step by step. This allows you to examine the formula in greater detail and hopefully find the culprit.
6. Press "Close" button to dismiss the dialog box.

There is also another way to debug formulas using the function key F9. F9 is especially useful if you have a feeling that a specific part of the formula is the issue, this makes it faster than the "Evaluate Formula" tool since you don't need to go through all calculations to find the issue..

1. Enter Edit mode: Double-press with left mouse button on the cell or press F2 to enter Edit mode for the formula.
2. Select part of the formula: Highlight the specific part of the formula you want to evaluate. You can select and evaluate any part of the formula that could work as a standalone formula.
3. Press F9: This will calculate and display the result of just that selected portion.
4. Evaluate step-by-step: You can select and evaluate different parts of the formula to see intermediate results.
5. Check for errors: This allows you to pinpoint which part of a complex formula may be causing an error.

The image above shows cell reference B4:F13 converted to hard-coded value using the F9 key. The BYROW function requires non-error values which is not the case in this example. We have found what is wrong with the formula.

Tips!

• View actual values: Selecting a cell reference and pressing F9 will show the actual values in those cells.
• Exit safely: Press Esc to exit Edit mode without changing the formula. Don't press Enter, as that would replace the formula part with the calculated value.
• Full recalculation: Pressing F9 outside of Edit mode will recalculate all formulas in the workbook.

Remember to be careful not to accidentally overwrite parts of your formula when using F9. Always exit with Esc rather than Enter to preserve the original formula. However, if you make a mistake overwriting the formula it is not the end of the world. You can “undo” the action by pressing keyboard shortcut keys CTRL + z or pressing the “Undo” button

6.3 Other errors

Floating-point arithmetic may give inaccurate results in Excel - Article

Floating-point errors are usually very small, often beyond the 15th decimal place, and in most cases don't affect calculations significantly.