Excel DGET Function

What is DGET Function in Excel?

The DGET function is one of the Database functions of Excel.

It extracts a single record from the database that matches the specified conditions.

We can find this function in the Database of the insert function Tab.

How to use DGET function in excel

1. Click on an empty cell (like F5 )

2. Click on the fx icon (or press shift+F3)

3. In the insert function tab you will see all functions

4. Select Database category

5. Select the DGET function

6. Then select ok

7. In the function arguments Tab you will see the DGET function

8. In the Database section you can enter the range of cells that make up the list or database. A database is a list of related data (ex: Table1)

9. Field section is either the label of the column in double quotation marks or a number that represents the column’s position in the list

10. Criteria section is the range of cells that contains the conditions you specify. The range includes a column label and one cell below the label for a condition (ex: Table1)

11. You will see the result in formula result section

Examples of DGET function in excel

Example 1:Find the Age of the student with DGET function

=DGET(Table1[#All],"Age",A1:D2)----->>>>answer is  25

Example 2:Find the Height of the student with DGET function

=DGET(Table1[#All],C1,A1:D2)----->>>>answer is  205

Example 3:Find the Weight of student with DGET function

=DGET(Table1[#All],D1,A1:D2)----->>>>answer is  235

Example 4:How can extract specific record from table in excel?

By using DGET function, we can extract a specific record from table in excel

For example, in the table below, we want to know how old is benjamin?

A1=”Name” & A2=”Benjamin”

=DGET(Table1[#All],"Age",A1:A2)----->>>>answer is  21

Example 5:Python code for DGET function

import pandas as pd

data=pd.read_csv(‘example.csv’)

df = pd.DataFrame(data)

result=df.loc[lambda df: (df[‘Name’] ==’Noah’ )]

print(result)

What is the purpose of DGET function?

It extracts a single record from the database that matches the specified conditions.

What is the Return value  of DGET function?

It can return any type of data (number,text,….).

DGET (database, field, criteria)=number,text,....

How many arguments does DGET function have?

DGET(database, field, criteria)

DGET function has 3 arguments.

• In the Database section you can enter the range of cells that make up the list or database
• Field section is either the label of the column in double quotation marks
• Criteria section is the range of cells that contains the conditions you specify

Which version of excel supports DGET function?

this function is available for all excel versions (2003-2019)

Errors in DGET function

If no record matches the criteria, DGET returns the #VALUE! error value.

If more than one record matches the criteria, DGET returns the #NUM! error value.

Conditions and criteria range in DGET function

Criteria argument in DGET function

we can define any range for the criteria argument: it has 2 condition

1. At leastone column label

2. At least one cell under the column label.

For example, if the range A1:A2 contains Name in A1 and Benjamin in A2,

you could define A1=”Name” & A2=”Benjamin”

Dget function find the word of “Benjamin” under “name” column

Location of Criteria range in DGET function

Although the criteria range can be located anywhere on the worksheet, do not place the criteria range below the list.

If you add more information to the list, the new information is added to the first row below the list. If the row below the list is not blank, Microsoft Excel cannot add the new information.

Make sure that the criteria range does not overlap the list.

To perform an operation on an entire column in a database, enter a blank line below the column labels in the criteria range.

Examples of DGET function in Excel

1. Extract a single value from a database based on specific criteria: =DGET(database, field, criteria)
2. Extract multiple values from a database based on specific criteria: =DGET(database, field, criteria1&criteria2)
3. Use a cell reference as the criteria: =DGET(database, field, A1:B2)
4. Use numeric criteria instead of text: =DGET(database, field, ">50")
5. Use an exact match instead of an approximate one: =DGET(database, field, {"field1","value1";"field2","value2"})
6. Use a wildcard character in the criteria: =DGET(database, field, "app*")
7. Handle errors or empty cells with the IFERROR function: =IFERROR(DGET(database, field, criteria),"No match found")
8. Extract data from a filtered database range: =DGET(Table1[#Data], "Sales", Table1[[#Headers],[Region]]="North")
9. Extract data from a pivot table: =DGET(PivotTable1,"Sum of Sales",$A$1:$C$10)
10. Retrieve data from an external database or data source: =DGET("[Sales.xlsx]Sheet1!$A$1:$C$10","Sales",{"Region","North"})

DGET function to extract specific data from a database

The DGET function in Excel is a powerful database function that allows you to extract specific data from a database based on certain criteria.

It stands for “Database GET” and is commonly used to retrieve information that meets certain conditions.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the DGET function to extract specific data from a database:

Step 1: Set up your database

Before using the DGET function, you’ll need to have a properly formatted database in Excel. This means that you should have a table with column headers and rows of data.

Each column should represent a different field (such as “Name,” “ID,” or “Date”), and each row should represent a separate record.

For example, let’s say you have a database of employees that looks like this:

Step 2: Define your criteria

Next, you’ll need to define the criteria for the data you want to extract. This involves specifying which records you want to include in your results based on certain conditions.

For example, let’s say you want to extract the salary of the employee with ID number 003.

Step 3: Enter the DGET function

Now it’s time to enter the DGET function into your spreadsheet. The basic syntax of the DGET function is as follows:

=DGET(database,field,criteria)

• Database: This is the range of cells that contains your database, including the headers.
• Field: This is the name of the field that contains the data you want to extract. This should match one of the column headers in your database.
• Criteria: This is a range of cells that contains the conditions that must be met for the data to be included in your results. Each row in this range represents a separate condition, and each column should correspond to a different field in your database.

So for our example, the DGET function would look like this:

=DGET(A1:D5,”Salary”,A7:B8)

Here, A1:D5 is the range of cells that contains our employee database, “Salary” is the name of the field we want to extract, and A7:B8 is the range of cells that contains our criteria (ID number 003).

Step 4: Check your results

Once you’ve entered the DGET function, Excel will automatically extract the data that meets your criteria and return it as a result. In this case, the result would be 70000, which is the salary of the employee with ID number 003.

And that’s it! That’s how you can use the DGET function to extract specific data from a database in Excel.

Arguments required for the DGET function to work properly

The DGET function in Excel is a database function that allows you to extract specific data from a database based on certain criteria.

In order for the DGET function to work properly, there are three arguments that must be included:

1. Database: The first argument that you need to include is the range of cells that contains the database you want to extract data from. This range should include column headers and all the rows of data.

For example, if you have a database of employees that includes the columns “Name,” “Age,” “Department,” and “Salary,” and you want to extract data from cell A2 to E7, then your database argument would be:

=A2:E7

2. Field: The second argument that you need to include is the name of the field that contains the data you want to extract. This should match one of the column headers in your database.

For example, if you want to extract the salaries of your employees, and “Salary” is the name of the column header that contains this information, your field argument would be:

“Salary”

Note that the field argument should be enclosed in double quotes.

3. Criteria: The third argument that you need to include is a range of cells that contains the conditions that must be met for the data to be included in your results. Each row in this range represents a separate condition, and each column should correspond to a different field in your database.

For example, if you want to extract the salary of an employee whose name is “John,” and “Name” is the corresponding field in your database, you would enter the following criteria:

Here, the first row specifies the field “Name” and the condition “John,” while the second row specifies the field “Salary” but has no condition specified (this is because we want to extract the salary of any employee who meets the first condition).

Finally, your DGET function would look like this:

=DGET(A2:E7, “Salary”, A10:B11)

DGET function used with multiple criteria or conditions

Yes, the DGET function in Excel can be used with multiple criteria or conditions to extract data from a database. In fact, this is one of its most powerful features!

To use the DGET function with multiple criteria, you simply need to include additional rows in your criteria range, with each row specifying a separate condition.

Each row should correspond to a different field in your database, and each column should contain the corresponding condition.

Here’s an example to help you understand how to use the DGET function with multiple criteria:

Let’s say you have a database of employees with the following columns: “Name,” “Age,” “Department,” and “Salary.”

You want to extract the salaries of all employees who are over 30 years old and work in the sales department.

Here’s how you would set up your criteria range:

Note that the first column specifies the field name for each criterion, while the second column contains the actual condition.

Next, you would enter the DGET function using these criteria, like this:

=DGET(A1:E7, “Salary”, A10:B14)

Where A1:E7 is the range of cells that contains the employee database (including the column headers), “Salary” is the field you want to extract, and A10:B14 is the range of cells that contains your criteria.

This function will search through all records in the database and return the salary for any employee who meets both conditions specified in the criteria range.

So, that’s how you can use the DGET function with multiple criteria in Excel! Just remember that each row in your criteria range represents a separate condition, and each column should correspond to a different field in your database.

DGET function differ from other database functions in Excel, such as DCOUNT and DSUM

The DGET function in Excel is just one of several database functions available in Excel.

While all these functions are designed to work with databases, they each have unique characteristics that make them more appropriate for certain tasks than others.

Here’s how the DGET function differs from other common database functions in Excel, such as DCOUNT and DSUM:

1. DGET: This function is used to extract data from a database based on certain criteria. It returns a single value that meets the specified conditions. The DGET function is useful when you need to retrieve specific information from a database based on complex criteria.

For example, if you have a database of employees and you want to extract the salary of an employee who works in the sales department and has an ID number of 001, the DGET function can be used to accomplish this task.

2. DCOUNT: This function is used to count the number of records in a database that meet certain criteria. It returns a numeric value indicating the number of records that match the specified conditions. The DCOUNT function is useful when you need to determine how many records in a database meet certain criteria.

For example, if you have a database of customers and you want to know how many of them are located in New York, the DCOUNT function can be used to count the number of records that have “New York” in the “City” field.

3. DSUM: This function is used to add up the values in a specific field in a database that meet certain criteria. It returns a numeric value that represents the sum of all values in the specified field that meet the specified conditions. The DSUM function is useful when you need to calculate the total value of all records in a database that meet certain criteria.

Using wildcard characters with the DGET function

When using wildcard characters with the DGET function in Excel, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your results are accurate and complete. Here’s what you need to take into consideration:

1. Use the correct wildcard characters: The two most commonly used wildcard characters in Excel are the asterisk (*) and the question mark (?). The asterisk represents any number of characters, while the question mark represents a single character.

For example, if you want to extract all names from a database that start with the letter “J,” you would use “J*” as your criteria.

2. Use the wildcard characters in the right place: When using wildcard characters with the DGET function, it’s important to use them correctly. For example, if you want to extract all names from a database that contain the letter “a” in the second position, you would use “?a*” as your criteria. This ensures that only names that meet this specific requirement are included in your results.
3. Be careful when using multiple wildcard characters: If you use multiple wildcard characters in your criteria range, you run the risk of getting inaccurate or incomplete results. It’s best to keep your criteria as specific as possible to avoid any confusion.
4. Make sure the field you’re searching allows for wildcards: Not all fields in a database may allow for wildcard searches. For example, some fields may only allow exact matches, while others may allow for partial matches using wildcard characters. It’s important to check the field properties before using wildcard characters in your criteria.
5. Use the correct database range: When using the DGET function with wildcard characters, make sure that your database range includes all relevant fields. If your database does not include the field you’re searching on, the function will return an error.

Handle errors or empty cells within the specified database range

the DGET function in Excel can handle errors or empty cells within the specified database range.

However, it’s important to understand how it handles these situations in order to ensure accurate and reliable results.

If there are errors or empty cells within the specified database range, the DGET function will return an error value (#VALUE!).

This indicates that the function was unable to extract data from the database due to missing or invalid information.

To avoid this error, you can use the IFERROR function in conjunction with the DGET function. The IFERROR function allows you to specify a value to return if the DGET function encounters an error. Here’s an example:

Suppose we have a database of employees that includes the columns “Name,” “Age,” and “Salary”. However, there are some empty cells in the “Salary” column.

We want to find the salary of the employee whose age is 30.

We can write the following DGET formula:

=DGET(A1:C6,”Salary”,A9:B10)

Assuming we entered Age as the first row and 30 as the second row in the criteria range A9:B10, this formula will return #VALUE! because there are empty cells in the Salary column.

To handle this situation, we can use the IFERROR function to return a more informative message when the DGET function encounters an error. Here’s the revised formula:

=IFERROR(DGET(A1:C6,”Salary”,A9:B10), “No salary found”)

Now, if the DGET function encounters an error, it will return the message “No salary found” instead of the error value.

DGET function with a range of merged cells

it is possible to use the DGET function with a range that includes merged cells in Excel. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when doing so.

When using the DGET function with a range that includes merged cells, you need to be aware of how Excel treats merged cells.

Essentially, when you merge cells in Excel, the data in the first cell becomes the “master” value, and any data in the other merged cells is deleted.

So if you have a database with merged cells and you’re using the DGET function to extract data based on criteria, you need to make sure that the criteria you’re searching for is located in the first (or master) cell of each merged group.

For example, suppose you have a database of employees that includes the columns “Name,” “Age,” “Department,” and “Salary.” The “Name” column has been merged across several rows, as shown below:

If you want to use the DGET function to extract the salary of an employee whose name is “John Doe,” you would need to enter “John Doe” in the first cell of the merged group, like this:

Then, you would enter the DGET function with the appropriate criteria, like this:

=DGET(A1:D6,”Salary”,A10:B11)

Where A1:D6 is the range of cells that contains the employee database (including the column headers), “Salary” is the field you want to extract, and A10:B11 is the range of cells that contains your criteria (which should include “Name” in the first row and “John Doe” in the second row).

DGET function returns exact match instead of an approximate one

By default, the DGET function in Excel uses approximate matching to search for data in a database based on criteria. This means that it will return the first value that is equal to or larger than the specified criteria.

However, in some cases, you may want to ensure that the DGET function returns an exact match instead of an approximate one. Here are a few ways to do this:

1. Use quotation marks around your criteria: To ensure an exact match, you can enclose your criteria in quotation marks. This is useful when you are searching for text values, such as names or descriptions.

For example, if you want to extract the salary of an employee whose name is “John,” you would enter the following criteria:

This ensures that only records with the exact name “John” are returned.

2. Use a separate cell for your criteria: Instead of entering your criteria directly into the DGET function, you can use a separate cell to hold your criteria and reference that cell in your formula.

For example, you could enter “John” in cell A1, and then use the following formula to extract his salary:

=DGET(A2:E7,”Salary”,A10:B11)

Where A2:E7 is the range of cells that contains the employee database (including the column headers), “Salary” is the field you want to extract, and A10:B11 is the range of cells that contains your criteria, which references cell A1.

3. Use an exact match function: Finally, you can use an exact match function, such as VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH, to search for data in your database based on criteria. These functions allow you to specify whether you want an exact or approximate match, giving you greater control over your search results.

For example, you could use the following formula to extract the salary of an employee whose name is “John” using the VLOOKUP function:

=VLOOKUP(“John”,A2:E7,4,FALSE)

Where “John” is the exact text value you want to match, A2:E7 is the range of cells that contains the employee database (including the column headers), 4 is the column number of the “Salary” field, and FALSE specifies that you want an exact match.

So, these are some ways you can ensure that the DGET function returns an exact match instead of an approximate one in Excel.

Limitations or constraints associated with using the DGET function

there are some limitations and constraints associated with using the DGET function in Excel. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using this function:

1. Database format: The DGET function is designed to work with databases that are formatted as tables, where each row represents a record and each column represents a field. If your data is not in this format, you may need to restructure it before using the DGET function.
2. Single value output: The DGET function can only return a single value that meets the specified criteria. If you need to extract multiple values or records from a database, you may need to use a different function, such as DSUM or DCOUNT.
3. Criteria range: The criteria range you use with the DGET function must have at least two rows: one for field names and one for criteria. If you include additional rows for multiple criteria, they must all be consistent with the field names in the first row.
4. Case sensitivity: The DGET function is case-insensitive, meaning that it treats uppercase and lowercase letters as equivalent. This can be an issue if you are searching for text values that are case-sensitive.
5. Errors and empty cells: As we discussed earlier, the DGET function returns an error value (#VALUE!) if there are errors or empty cells within the specified database range. To avoid this, you can use the IFERROR function to handle errors.
6. Wildcard characters: While you can use wildcard characters with the DGET function, as we discussed earlier, it’s important to use them correctly and be aware of any limitations associated with specific wildcard characters.
7. Unique records: Finally, the DGET function assumes that there are no duplicate records in the database. If there are multiple records that meet the specified criteria, the function will return the first matching value it encounters. If you need to ensure that you are returning unique records, you may need to use a different function, such as VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH.

So, these are some of the limitations and constraints associated with using the DGET function in Excel.

While it can be a powerful tool for extracting data from a database, it’s important to be aware of these factors to ensure accurate and reliable results.

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