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Sequence

SEQUENCE Function

Introduced in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2019, the SEQUENCE function generates a list or array of sequential numbers. It's useful for creating a series of numbers in an array formula, without manually entering them.

Syntax:

SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])
  • rows: The number of rows to fill with sequential numbers.
  • columns (optional): The number of columns to fill with sequential numbers. If omitted, defaults to 1.
  • start (optional): The first number in the sequence. If omitted, defaults to 1.
  • step (optional): The increment for each subsequent number in the sequence. If omitted, defaults to 1.

Examples:

  1. =SEQUENCE(4) would generate an array with four rows filled with the numbers 1 to 4.
  2. =SEQUENCE(3, 2) would create a 3x2 array: {{1, 2}, {3, 4}, {5, 6}}.
  3. =SEQUENCE(5, 1, 10, 2) would produce a column of five numbers, starting from 10 and incrementing by 2: {10, 12, 14, 16, 18}.

Usage Notes:

  • The SEQUENCE function is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to create a series of dates, times, or even for use in custom data validation rules.
  • One of the key advantages of SEQUENCE is its ability to generate dynamic arrays that automatically spill into adjacent cells, which means the function adjusts the output range based on the specified row and column counts.

Note: The SEQUENCE function is only available in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2019 onwards. In earlier versions of Excel, similar results can be achieved with functions like ROW, COLUMN, and array formulas.