Using IMPORTRANGE Function

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 78 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how to import and sum a chosen column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 using a drop-down list in Google Sheets. This can be achieved using various formulas and functions, including the IMPORTRANGE function, QUERY function, and ARRAYFORMULA function.

Using IMPORTRANGE Function

The IMPORTRANGE function allows you to import data from another spreadsheet. However, it does not allow you to import a specific column based on a drop-down list. To achieve this, you can use the IMPORTRANGE function in combination with the INDEX and MATCH functions.

Here's an example of how to use the IMPORTRANGE function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1:

Open your Google Sheet and go to the Sheet1 where you want to import the data.
Select cell C2 where you want to display the data.
In cell C2, enter the following formula:

=IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A")

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

However, this formula will import all the data in column A from Sheet2. To import a specific column based on a drop-down list, you need to use the INDEX and MATCH functions.

Using INDEX and MATCH Functions

The INDEX function returns a value from a range based on a row and column number. The MATCH function returns the relative position of a value within a range.

Here's an example of how to use the INDEX and MATCH functions to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list:

Create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2.
In cell C2, enter the following formula:

=INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), MATCH(C1, IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), 0))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

This formula will import the data from the column that corresponds to the value selected in the drop-down list in cell C1.

Using QUERY Function

The QUERY function allows you to extract data from a range based on a query. You can use the QUERY function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list.

Here's an example of how to use the QUERY function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1:

Create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2.
In cell C2, enter the following formula:

=QUERY(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), "SELECT " & C1 & " WHERE " & C1 & " IS NOT NULL")

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

This formula will import the data from the column that corresponds to the value selected in the drop-down list in cell C1.

Using ARRAYFORMULA

The ARRAYFORMULA function allows you to perform an operation on an array of values. You can use the ARRAYFORMULA function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list.

Here's an example of how to use the ARRAYFORMULA function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1:

Create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2.
In cell C2, enter the following formula:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(C1:C = "Column A", IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), ""))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

This formula will import the data from the column that corresponds to the value selected in the drop-down list in cell C1.

SUM Chosen Column

To sum the chosen column, you can use the SUM function in combination with the IMPORTRANGE function or the QUERY function.

Here's an example of how to use the SUM function to sum the chosen column:

In cell D2, enter the following formula:

=SUM(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

This formula will sum all the data in column A from Sheet2.

However, if you want to sum the chosen column based on a drop-down list, you can use the SUM function in combination with the INDEX and MATCH functions or the QUERY function.

Here's an example of how to use the SUM function to sum the chosen column based on a drop-down list:

Create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2.
In cell D2, enter the following formula:

=SUM(QUERY(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), "SELECT " & C1 & " WHERE " & C1 & " IS NOT NULL"))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

This formula will sum the data from the column that corresponds to the value selected in the drop-down list in cell C1.

Conclusion

Q: What is the IMPORTRANGE function and how does it work?

A: The IMPORTRANGE function is a Google Sheets function that allows you to import data from another spreadsheet. It takes two arguments: the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import, and the range of cells that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I use the IMPORTRANGE function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1?

A: To use the IMPORTRANGE function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1, you need to specify the range of cells that contains the data you want to import. For example, if you want to import column A from Sheet2 to Sheet1, you would use the following formula:

=IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A")

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I use the INDEX and MATCH functions to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list?

A: To use the INDEX and MATCH functions to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list, you need to create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2. Then, you can use the following formula:

=INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), MATCH(C1, IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), 0))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I use the QUERY function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list?

A: To use the QUERY function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list, you need to create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2. Then, you can use the following formula:

=QUERY(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), "SELECT " & C1 & " WHERE " & C1 & " IS NOT NULL")

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I use the ARRAYFORMULA function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list?

A: To use the ARRAYFORMULA function to import a specific column from Sheet2 to Sheet1 based on a drop-down list, you need to create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2. Then, you can use the following formula:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(C1:C = "Column A", IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), ""))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I sum the chosen column using the SUM function?

A: To sum the chosen column using the SUM function, you can use the following formula:

=SUM(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: How do I sum the chosen column based on a drop-down list using the SUM function?

A: To sum the chosen column based on a drop-down list using the SUM function, you need to create a drop-down list in cell C1 that contains the column names from Sheet2. Then, you can use the following formula:

=SUM(QUERY(IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet2!A:A"), "SELECT " & C1 & " WHERE " & C1 & " IS NOT NULL"))

Replace "spreadsheet_url" with the URL of the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

Q: What are the limitations of the IMPORTRANGE function?

A: The IMPORTRANGE function has several limitations, including:

It can only import data from a spreadsheet that is publicly accessible.
It can only import data from a range of cells that is specified in the formula.
It can only import data from a spreadsheet that is in the same Google account as the spreadsheet that contains the formula.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the IMPORTRANGE function?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the IMPORTRANGE function, you can try the following:

Check that the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import is publicly accessible.
Check that the range of cells that contains the data you want to import is specified correctly in the formula.
Check that the spreadsheet that contains the formula is in the same Google account as the spreadsheet that contains the data you want to import.

By following these tips and troubleshooting steps, you can resolve issues with the IMPORTRANGE function and import data from another spreadsheet into your Google Sheet.