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Dynamic array function
TAKE
Returns the first or last rows or columns of an array; negative numbers count from the end.
OccasionalDifficulty 1350 · AdvancedUsage rank #108 of 520
When to use it
The first or last N rows (and columns) of an array. Positive counts from the start, negative from the end.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=TAKE(array, rows, [columns])
Worked examples
First rows
=TAKE(A2:C6,2) → first two rows
The top two records.
Last row
=TAKE(A2:C6,-1) → Widget Pro row
The last row.
Top N
=TAKE(SORT(A2:C6,2,-1),3) → top three by price
Sort descending, then keep three.
Worth knowing
- Last 12 months: TAKE(range,-12).
- First column only: TAKE(range,,1).
- Cleaner than OFFSET for "last N".
Where it goes wrong
- #CALC! when the count is 0.
- Asking for more rows than exist returns all of them, not an error.
Related
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