{"id":192652,"date":"2022-06-07T00:02:37","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T22:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=192652"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:41:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:41:47","slug":"functions-for-getting-most-out-of-google-sheets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/functions-for-getting-most-out-of-google-sheets\/","title":{"rendered":"8 functions for getting the most out of Google Sheets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google Sheets<\/strong> is a free, cloud-based tool<\/strong> that’s invaluable for measuring and controlling essential business information<\/strong> like sales and performance metrics. And while the app is available at no cost, it shouldn\u2019t be mistaken for a watered-down version of Microsoft Excel<\/a> or some other pricey add-on attached to a licensed operating system like Windows 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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With that in mind, optimizing Google Sheets<\/strong> requires a strong command of several core functions. Google Sheets functions give you enough power and control over your spreadsheets to handle almost any complex assemblage of data. Here are eight widely used spreadsheet functions<\/strong> assured to help you get the most out of Google Sheets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TRIM function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve worked with spreadsheets in the past, you know that cells with extra blank spaces<\/strong> at the beginning or end of a text string can render your formulas useless and produce ineffective results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRIM<\/em>removes blank spaces<\/strong> at the beginning and end of spreadsheet cells and even multiple spaces between words. Even if the unnecessary spaces do not impact your calculations, TRIM<\/em> gives your text strings a clean and professional look<\/strong> when you print your spreadsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trim<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The IF function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The IF<\/em> function is one of the most useful tools in Google Sheets<\/strong>. It lets you use previously entered spreadsheet data<\/strong> to determine if a condition is true or false. You can use the IF<\/em> function to test whether or not a new value is greater or less than all the current information on the spreadsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This function helps you determine true or false answers<\/strong> about your latest data entries against previously entered information. You can use these results to run additional calculations<\/strong> later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Test<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The IMAGE function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because spreadsheets are powerful tools for organizing and comparing raw data<\/strong>, it’s nice that you can upload images to Google Sheets with the IMAGE<\/em> function. Spreadsheets are often hard to work with because they lack visual elements<\/strong>. Gazing at a mundane wall of cells with numbers and strings is the breeding ground for needless data entry errors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to break up the monotony and stimulate focus is by adding images to your Google Sheet<\/strong> to improve readability and emphasize the critical details<\/strong> of your spreadsheet. To insert the desired graphic, simply add the image URL inside the parentheses for the IMAGE<\/em> function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The SUM function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The SUM<\/em> function is fundamental to any spreadsheet application<\/strong>, and Google Sheets wouldn\u2019t be complete without it. As in Excel, use the SUM<\/em> function after selecting a range of cells to find the sum of a value<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fine<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The SPLIT function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use the SPLIT<\/em> function in Google Sheets to break up a text string in a single cell<\/strong>. If you have a string containing more than one word, the SPLIT<\/em> function separates the words into individual cells. This way, you don\u2019t have to recreate the entire spreadsheet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use the SPLIT<\/em> function, look for the parentheses followed by the cell address of the string you want to split. Type the SPLIT<\/em> function in the cell and enter the first character that designates where you want the string to split. The information will separate, starting a new cell<\/strong> where you entered the SPLIT function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The SUMIF function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The SUMIF<\/em> function extends the IF<\/em> functions by incorporating the SUM<\/em> function. For example, if you want to know the total amount of a specific value<\/strong> within a range, the SUMIF<\/em> function lets you do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the parentheses of the SUMIF<\/em> function, enter the value type (for instance, a person\u2019s name) for which you need a sum in quotation marks. Then, select the range of cells<\/strong> reflecting the values you wish to calculate. SUMIF<\/em> will only calculate the sum for the value you entered in quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SUMIF<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ISEMAIL\/ISURL function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For spreadsheets that entail a lengthy series of emails or URLs, a quick way to validate<\/strong> them is always helpful. To ensure that all your email address and URL information is correct<\/strong>, use the ISEMAIL\/ISURL<\/em> function to verify. This function offers a fast and automated way of double-checking your data entry and confirming that all the email and URL formats are valid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ensure<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTRANGE function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTRANGE<\/em> allows you to pull data from another spreadsheet in Google Sheets. This feature comes in handy for replicating data across multiple spreadsheets<\/strong>. IMPORTRANGE<\/em> lets you pull this information in by simply entering the URL address for the Google Sheet that contains the source data<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pull<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Download Google Sheets for free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While this quick guide covered only a few basic and unique functions of the Sheets interface<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find several more practical tools and features<\/strong> after downloading the app. Google also offers the Sheets mobile app<\/strong> for both Android and iOS<\/strong>. If you\u2019re interested in more free tools from Google, check out this list of 10 essential Chrome extensions for developers<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google Sheets is a free, cloud-based tool that’s invaluable for measuring and controlling essential business information like sales and performance metrics. And while the app is available at no cost, it shouldn\u2019t be mistaken for a watered-down version of Microsoft Excel or some other pricey add-on attached to a licensed operating system like Windows 11. … Continue reading “8 functions for getting the most out of Google Sheets”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9223,"featured_media":192888,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":1},"categories":[2518,2441],"tags":[3474],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-192652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-how-to","tag-app-subdomain-redirectiongoogle-sheets"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9223"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192652"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":341250,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192652\/revisions\/341250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192652"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=192652"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=192652"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=192652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}