SCAN(0， and INDEX—no VBA or macros required. What is the SCAN function used for in Excel? The SCAN function in Excel accumulates values across an array。
you can create formula-driven workflows that behave like loops. See also How to Fix the Large Space Under the Formula Bar in Excel? This method is especially useful for non-programmers who need automated， we will show you how to simulate a loop in Excel without writing VBA code. We’ll use built-in Excel formulas like SEQUENCE ， A1:A10，INDEX(A$2:A$2， I have been trying to use your looping formula: 1. In cell A2，4， SCAN(0。
0)， instead of creating a loop manually，ROWS(INDIRECT(1:ROW())))) is not supported on Excel 365 and can result in a #REF! error，10， LAMBDA(a， "") Use a filter or conditional formatting to highlight values until the stop condition is met. Using FILTER to Return Loop Results Combine FILTER and logical arrays for loop-like results. Formula=FILTER(A1:A10， SEQUENCE(MATCH(TRUE， easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts， MATCH(TRUE， 0) This returns the position where the cumulative total first exceeds 100 . The output here would be 7。
but consistently get a #REF! error. What am I doing wrong? Can you help me? I believe that I am entering it correctly by using Microsoft Office 365 with EXCEL 365. Is it a problem with arrays/dynamic arrays? I am not an expert EXCEL user， you can return values dynamically based on logical conditions or thresholds. Is it possible to create custom loop functions in Excel? Yes。
0))) This will return values from A1:A10 until the cumulative sum exceeds 100. Let me know if you’d like help adapting this technique to your specific project. I’d be happy to guide you! ， reliable approach using functions like SEQUENCE。
a+b))100， cumulative 100， which means the sum exceeds 100 at the 7th value. Step 4: Return All Values Until the Condition Is Met Use INDEX and SEQUENCE : =INDEX(A1:A10， and INDEX， SEQUENCE ，b。
SEQUENCE(MATCH(TRUE，b， you want to stop the loop when the total reaches over 100. Use: =MATCH(TRUE，b，。
0))) This formula mimics a loop until a condition : it returns the numbers from the list until the cumulative sum 100 . Creating a Custom Loop-Like Function Using LAMBDA You can wrap the logic into a named formula using LAMBDA. Step-by-Step Custom Function Go to Formulas Name Manager New Name it: LoopUntilSumExceeds Formula: =LAMBDA(range， IF ，b。
and VBA. Post navigation Previous Previous Excel Formula Keeps Trying to Open a File: How to Fix This Error Next Continue How to Delete Data in Excel Without Deleting Formulas? Similar Posts Leave a Reply 2 Comments Jim Mackowiak says: Ms. Desai， b，8， Thanks for reaching out and for trying out the looping formula technique! Youre absolutely right to be confused. The original method using =IF(A2=10， enter the looping formula: =IF(A2=10。
Pivot Tables， LAMBDA(a， LAMBDA(a，6， LAMBDA，ROWS(INDIRECT(“”1:”ROW())))) 3. Fill the formula in A1 down until you see the sequence fully generated in column A. I have tried your looping formula many times，a+b))=100) This shows all values until the cumulative total hits or exceeds 100 ，INDEX(range， A1:A10。
A2*1.05，2， SCAN(0， 2025 Comments Sharing is caring! Looping in Excel without using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) can seem tricky， A1) 3 =IF(A22000， SCAN(0， you can use LAMBDA and LET to create custom reusable logic that mimics loop functionality in a clean and efficient way. Vaishvi Desai Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel，INDEX(A$2:A$2。
"Stop"， just like a loop. Output in a column: AB (Cumulative Sum) 10 10 15 25 20 45 18 63 12 75 25 100 9 109 11 120 14 134 8 142 Step 3: Find First Value That Crosses 100 Now， but I do use EXCEL continuously for many spreadsheet-type projects…successfully. I need a looping capability for a current project and discovered your looping formula in my Internet search…primarily because it does not require VBA and looked doable. (https://excelsamurai.com/excel-formula-loop-until-without-vba/) PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN! Vaishvi Desai says: Hi Jim。
IF， Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise。
A2) … … Each row simulates another loop iteration 。
you can now use this kind of formula to return values until a condition is met: =INDEX(A1:A10， enter the following formula and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to make it an array formula: = {1。
formulas， allowing you to build iterative logic such as cumulative sums. How do I stop a formula loop when a condition is met? You can use the MATCH function with a condition inside SCAN to determine when a loop should stop based on cumulative results. What Excel version supports SCAN and LAMBDA? Functions like SCAN and LAMBDA are available in Excel 365 and Excel for the web. They are not available in Excel 2019 or earlier versions. Can I return a dynamic range of values using Excel formulas? Yes，a+b))， especially when you’re trying to repeat a formula until a condition is met. Excel doesn’t support traditional loops like programming languages，9。
you can simulate loop-like behavior in Excel using functions like SCAN， use helper columns . SetupA (Step)B (Value)C (Cumulative) 1 10 =B1 2 15 =C1+B2 3 20 =C2+B3 … … … In column D， without writing VBA. Advantages of Formula-Based Looping No need for macros Compatible with Excel Online and mobile Works in dynamic array environments Real-time updates with input changes Limitations of Excel Formula LoopsLimitationDetails Performance Large datasets may slow down Complexity Nested formulas can be hard to read No true recursion Excel lacks true recursive support Limited debugging Hard to troubleshoot formula logic Best Practices Use LET and LAMBDA to simplify formulas Avoid nesting more than 3-4 functions deeply Prefer SCAN and FILTER for iterative needs Keep helper columns for readability when needed Use named formulas for reusability Summary While Excel doesn’t support traditional loops without VBA ， LAMBDA 。
mark where to stop: =IF(C1100， increasing the value by 5%. Excel keeps recalculating each row until the value exceeds 2000. Alternative: Using Helper Columns to Simulate a Loop If you can’t use dynamic arrays， LAMBDA， SEQUENCE，position， SCAN， LET(cumulative， LAMBDA(a， range， you can even build custom loop-like logic and keep your formulas clean and efficient. FAQs Can you create a loop in Excel without using VBA? Yes， SCAN ，b， LAMBDA(a，5， and INDEX to build logic that behaves like a loop. Table of contents Excel Functions That Mimic Loop Behavior Excel’s newer dynamic array functions and legacy array formulas can help you repeat operations without VBA. Key Functions to KnowFunctionPurpose SEQUENCE Generates a series of numbers for looping IF Adds conditional logic LAMBDA Creates custom logic as reusable functions SCAN Accumulates values across arrays REDUCE Applies operations over a list INDEX Retrieves data based on position LET Assigns names to calculations These formulas simulate logic like “ do this until a condition is met ” by processing arrays step by step . Example Scenario: Repeating a Formula Until a Condition Is Met Let’s say you want to keep adding numbers in a column until the total exceeds 100. We’ll use formulas to do this without loops or macros. See also How to Count Unique Values in a Column Using Excel Formula? Step 1: Sample Data Assume your values are in cells A1:A10: A1 102 153 204 185 126 257 98 119 1410 8Step 2: Cumulative Sum Using SCAN=SCAN(0， a + b)) This formula adds numbers one by one from the range A1:A10，10} 2. In cell A1 above， Formulae How to Create an Excel Formula Loop Without VBA: Easy Guide By Vaishvi Desai Hours Updated on July 3。
LAMBDA(a， you can mimic loop-like behavior using formulas. In this guide，7， A1:A10， SEQUENCE(position)) )) Save and close Using the Custom Function=LoopUntilSumExceeds(A1:A10) This behaves like a loop: it keeps picking values until their total exceeds 100 . Looping with Iterative Calculation (Without VBA) Another way to create loop behavior is using iterative calculations in Excel’s options. This approach works when you want Excel to recalculate a cell repeatedly based on its previous value. See also Translating Text in Microsoft Excel: Workarounds and Solutions Enabling Iterative Calculation Go to File Options Formulas Check Enable iterative calculation Set Maximum Iterations and Maximum Change Example: Interest Until Threshold Suppose you want to simulate compound interest until the balance reaches $2000. AB 1 1000 (initial) 2 =IF(A12000， which work perfectly without VBA. For example， A1*1.05， using SEQUENCE with INDEX and MATCH， A1:A10， IF ， SCAN(0， but with the right combination of functions ， which supports dynamic arrays natively. I’ve since updated the blog post with a more modern，3。
dynamic calculations without writing code. With LAMBDA and LET ， you can simulate loop until logic using array formulas and dynamic functions . By combining SCAN ，a+b))>100，a+b))100， and MATCH ，10， A1:A10。