Index/match/match & offset/match/match

[Ben M]

I've been reading up on using INDEX/MATCH/MATCH & OFFSET/MATCH/MATCH. It appears that OFFSET is considered to be a more volatile function and slower at processing. I therefore can't see any occasion where you would use the OFFSET option over the INDEX option as they both appear to be doing exactly the same thing.

Is this correct or do you know of any examples where OFFSET is preferable.

Thanks.

 

[LloydFinancials]

I have used OFFSET on large amounts of data. It can be slower, but usually not too much. I use OFFSET to define an array off of a given point. Say I am searching for the value "B" in column A and "B" is in A10 and I want my array to go from A10:B13. You can use OFFSET to establish that array. INDEX is used once the array is established.