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How to use Google Sheets' QUERY function for advanced data filtering?

Google Sheets' QUERY function is a powerful tool that allows users to filter and manipulate data based on specific criteria. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the QUERY function for advanced data filtering:

  1. Open a Google Sheets document and navigate to the sheet containing the data you want to filter.

  2. Decide where you want to display the filtered data. It can be on a separate sheet or within the same sheet.

  3. In the cell where you want to display the filtered data, start the formula with an equal sign (=) followed by the word "QUERY" and an opening bracket "(".

  4. Inside the opening bracket, specify the range of data you want to filter. It can be a single column or a range of columns. For example, if you want to filter data from columns A, B, and C, the range would be 'A:C'.

  5. After specifying the range, add a comma (,) to separate it from the next parameter.

  6. Define the query criteria by adding a string of SQL-like commands to specify the conditions for filtering. Some commonly used commands include:

    • "SELECT" to specify which columns to include in the result. You can use column names or use the syntax 'Col1, Col2' to select specific columns.
    • "WHERE" to define the conditions for filtering data. For example, 'WHERE A > 10' will filter only the rows where the value in column A is greater than 10.
    • "ORDER BY" to sort the filtered data based on specific columns. For example, 'ORDER BY A ASC' will sort the data in ascending order by column A.

    You can combine multiple commands to create complex query criteria. Make sure to enclose the query criteria within double quotes ("").

  7. Close the formula with a closing bracket ")" and press Enter. The filtered data will appear in the selected cell or range, based on your query criteria.

Remember, the QUERY function in Google Sheets is flexible and allows you to perform various manipulations on your data. By mastering this function, you can easily filter and extract specific information from large datasets.