Find largest number across multiple sheets using INDIRECT

[aloring]

I'm trying to find the Largest number (in column A) across a number of worksheets, but I need the names of the worksheets to be dynamic.
I can do this with a single worksheet, but using a colon separator within the worksheets seems to cause the formula to have a #REF ! error.

I have the names of the worksheets in Column A (on sheet1) and am then trying to use this formula to get the largest number from the other sheets:
=LARGE(INDIRECT("'"&$A$2&":"&$A$5&"'!A:A"),1)

Can anybody spot what I'm doing wrong, or suggest another formula to do this (I'm using LARGE as opposed to MAX because I will then want to show the second and third largets numbers etc.)

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Do you have a list of sheet names in A2:A5?

 

[EvonS]

I haven't used the LARGE function before but it looks like your missing a row reference in the last part of your formula. Have you tried evaluating the formula so you can see which part of the calculation is giving you the trouble?

 

[aloring]

Yes, sheet names are listed in A2:A5 (on sheet1), so the formula should be returning " 'Name_A:Name_B'!A:A " which works when entered manually, but now via INDIRECT

 

[aloring]

I haven't used the LARGE function before but it looks like your missing a row reference in the last part of your formula. Have you tried evaluating the formula so you can see which part of the calculation is giving you the trouble?

It doesn't need row references because "A:A" will reference all rows in column A, but thanks for the help.

 

[mikerickson]

would it work for you to create a blank sheet (called Start) and put it before the sheet named in A1.
And another sheet (named End) after the A5 sheet.
Then =MAX(Start:End!$A:$A) should get what you want.


Start and End can be hidden after they are created.

 

[aloring]

would it work for you to create a blank sheet (called Start) and put it before the sheet named in A1.
And another sheet (named End) after the A5 sheet.
Then =MAX(Start:End!$A:$A) should get what you want.


Start and End can be hidden after they are created.

Yes, thanks Mike, that's an option, albeit with LARGE not MAX (although I'd have to amend the other formulae which refer to worksheets.count), but I'm still confused as to why the INDIRECT isn't working!

 

[XOR LX]

Hi,

mikerickson's suggestion is by far the most practical, though for Excel 2010 and later you could also use the following array formula**:

=MAX(AGGREGATE(4,,A2,INDIRECT("'"&A2:A5&"'!A:A")))

Regards


**Array formulas are not entered in the same way as 'standard' formulas. Instead of pressing just ENTER, you first hold down CTRL and SHIFT, and only then press ENTER. If you've done it correctly, you'll notice Excel puts curly brackets {} around the formula (though do not attempt to manually insert these yourself).

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Yes, sheet names are listed in A2:A5 (on sheet1), so the formula should be returning " 'Name_A:Name_B'!A:A " which works when entered manually, but now via INDIRECT

Just enter and copy down:

=LARGE(First:Last!$A:A,ROWS($1:1))

where First and Last are two new sheets which envelops the relevant sheets.

Or control+shift+enter, not just enter, and copy down:

=LARGE(N(OFFSET(INDIRECT("'"&TRANSPOSE($A$2:$A$5)&"'!A2:A2000"),ROW(A2:A2000)-ROW(A2),0)),ROWS($1:1))