5 Excel Functions Missing in Google Sheets

Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel are two of the most widely used spreadsheet software programs globally, catering to a wide array of needs from simple data management to complex financial modeling. While Google Sheets has made significant strides in becoming a comprehensive alternative to Excel, it lacks some of the specialized functions that Excel users have grown accustomed to. Here, we delve into five Excel functions missing from Google Sheets that could affect productivity for users accustomed to Excel's full suite of features.

1. TEXTJOIN Function

The TEXTJOIN function in Excel is particularly useful for concatenating text strings where you can specify a delimiter to insert between each text value. Google Sheets has its own JOIN function, but it doesn’t handle empty cells and arrays as elegantly as TEXTJOIN. Here’s how it looks in Excel:

=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A1:A10)

This function joins all non-empty cells from A1 to A10 with a comma and space between each. In Google Sheets, achieving the same result requires a more convoluted formula.

2. XLOOKUP Function

XLOOKUP in Excel has revolutionized the way we search for data within tables or ranges. It’s versatile, allowing for both horizontal and vertical lookups, searches from last to first, and returns either an exact or approximate match. Google Sheets provides a similar functionality with VLOOKUP and LOOKUP, but they aren’t as robust or intuitive:

• It doesn't automatically adjust lookup range as VLOOKUP does if the column order changes.
• It's bidirectional in search and return direction, making it adaptable for various table structures.

🔎 Note: Although Google Sheets supports VLOOKUP, it lacks XLOOKUP's flexibility and bidirectional search capability.

3. IFS Function

Excel’s IFS function allows you to test multiple conditions and return a value corresponding to the first true condition. Google Sheets does not offer an exact counterpart, though you can use nested IF statements to achieve similar results. Here’s an example:

=IFS(A1>90, "Excellent", A1>75, "Good", A1>50, "Pass", TRUE, "Fail")

This would be cumbersome in Google Sheets with multiple IF functions, increasing the likelihood of formula errors.

4. SEQUENCE Function

Excel’s SEQUENCE function can generate a sequence of numbers in a range, row, or column. This function is not available in Google Sheets, which can be inconvenient for tasks like generating dynamic ranges or creating a series of dates. Here’s how you’d use it in Excel:

=SEQUENCE(5)

This would output numbers from 1 to 5 in the next 5 cells. In Google Sheets, you'd have to rely on manual entry or create your own custom function.

5. CONCAT Function

While Google Sheets does have a CONCAT function, it is limited to combining just two strings or ranges. Excel’s CONCAT function, on the other hand, supports multiple range references or arguments, making it much more flexible for text manipulation:

=CONCAT(A1, " ", B1, " ", C1)

Google Sheets requires the use of CONCATENATE or multiple & operators to achieve similar results, which can be quite verbose.

In summary, while Google Sheets has made significant advancements in functionality, there are still several Excel functions that are missed by users migrating or using both platforms. The lack of functions like TEXTJOIN, XLOOKUP, IFS, SEQUENCE, and a more robust CONCAT can impact productivity, especially for those accustomed to the extensive library of Excel. However, Google Sheets continues to evolve, and some of these functions might be integrated in future updates, making it an increasingly viable alternative for Excel users.

Are there any workarounds in Google Sheets for the missing Excel functions?

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Yes, users can often find workarounds in Google Sheets through a combination of other functions or by using scripting languages like Google Apps Script to create custom functions.

Will Google Sheets ever implement these missing functions?

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Google continuously updates Google Sheets with new features and functions. While there’s no definite timeline, the demand for these functions might prompt future implementations.

What are the alternatives to these functions in Google Sheets?

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Here are some alternatives:

• JOIN for TEXTJOIN but with limitations.
• Nested IF functions for IFS.
• Custom scripts for SEQUENCE.
• Multiple & or CONCATENATE for CONCAT.

Why are these functions important?

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These functions streamline data manipulation, reduce errors, and increase efficiency in data analysis tasks, which are critical for many users transitioning from Excel.

How can I stay updated on Google Sheets function updates?

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Regularly check the official Google Workspace Updates blog, the Google Sheets Help Center, or follow Google Workspace on social media for news on feature updates.