The VLOOKUP function performs a vertical lookup by searching for a value in the first column of a table and returning the value in the same row in the index_number position. The VLOOKUP function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Lookup/Reference Function.
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How use VLOOKUP step by step?
How to use VLOOKUP in Excel
- Step 1: Organize the data.
- Step 2: Tell the function what to lookup.
- Step 3: Tell the function where to look.
- Step 4: Tell Excel what column to output the data from.
- Step 5: Exact or approximate match.
Why you should never use VLOOKUP?
It can not lookup and return a value which is to the left of the lookup value. It works only with data which is arranged vertically. VLOOKUP would give a wrong result if you add/delete a new column in your data (as the column number value now refers to the wrong column).
What is VLOOKUP in Excel with example?
The VLOOKUP function always looks up a value in the leftmost column of a table and returns the corresponding value from a column to the right. 1. For example, the VLOOKUP function below looks up the first name and returns the last name.No worries, you can use INDEX and MATCH in Excel to perform a left lookup.
Is Vlookup hard to learn?
While Vlookup is only one function in the world of spreadsheet management, its perhaps the most valuable and impactful one you can learn. By the way, you can also use its sister function, Hlookup, to search for values in Horizontal rows instead of Vertical columns. Take 5 minutes and learn Vlookup.
How do I pull data from another sheet in Excel using Vlookup?
How to Vlookup from another workbook in Excel
- Open both files.
- Start typing your formula, switch to the other workbook, and select the table array using the mouse.
- Enter the remaining arguments and press the Enter key to complete your formula.
What are VLOOKUPs good for?
When you need to find information in a large spreadsheet, or you are always looking for the same kind of information, use the VLOOKUP function. VLOOKUP works a lot like a phone book, where you start with the piece of data you know, like someone’s name, in order to find out what you don’t know, like their phone number.
What formula is better than VLOOKUP?
When deciding between which vertical lookup formula to use, the majority of Excel experts agree that INDEX MATCH is a better formula than VLOOKUP. However, many people still resort to using VLOOKUP because it’s a simpler formula.
When would VLOOKUP not return an exact value?
If you omit to supply match type in a range_lookup argument of VLOOKUP then by default it searches for approximate match values, if it does not find exact match value. And if table_array is not sorted in ascending order by the first column, then VLOOKUP returns incorrect results.
How do I compare two columns in Excel using VLOOKUP?
Follow these steps to compare two columns in Excel.
- Click the Compare two columns worksheet tab in the VLOOKUP Advanced Sample file.
- Add columns in your workbook so you have space for results.
- Type the first VLOOKUP formula in cell E2:
- Click Enter on your keyboard and drag the VLOOKUP formula down through cell C17.
Can VLOOKUP return multiple rows?
Well, VLOOKUP is designed to return a single value, not multiple values. That is, VLOOKUP scans down the lookup range and stops at the first matching row … ignoring any additional matching rows. Once VLOOKUP finds a matching row, it shoots to the right to retrieve the related value from a single column.
Does VLOOKUP have to be first column?
Remember that the lookup value should always be in the first column in the range for VLOOKUP to work correctly. For example, if your lookup value is in cell C2 then your range should start with C.
Why is my VLOOKUP returning NA when value exists?
The most common cause of the #N/A error is with VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, LOOKUP, or MATCH functions if a formula can’t find a referenced value. For example, your lookup value doesn’t exist in the source data. In this case there is no “Banana” listed in the lookup table, so VLOOKUP returns a #N/A error.
Can you VLOOKUP from a different workbook?
If your price list is in a different workbook, you can still use a VLOOKUP formula to pull the data, by referring to the external list.Excel will automatically add the other workbook’s name and the worksheet name in the formula.
What elements are required for Vlookup?
A VLOOKUP function exists of 4 components:
- The value you want to look up;
- The range in which you want to find the value and the return value;
- The number of the column within your defined range, that contains the return value;
What is Col_index_num in VLOOKUP?
The Col_index_num (Column index number) is the relative column number in the list. Nothing to do with where it is in Excel, it’s the column number in the table.
Why is Hlookup used?
Use HLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a row across the top of a table of data, and you want to look down a specified number of rows. Use VLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a column to the left of the data you want to find.
What is the difference between lookup and VLOOKUP?
The main difference between VLOOKUP and LOOKUP functions is the VLOOKUP is limited to vertical lookups only and the LOOKUP function has cross functionality which means that it can perform both vertical lookups and horizontal lookups.
What are the disadvantages of VLOOKUP?
Limitations of VLOOKUP
One major limitation of VLOOKUP is that it cannot look to the left. The values to lookup must always be on the left-most column of the range and the values to return must be on the right hand side. You cannot use the standard VLOOKUP to look at the columns and the rows to find an exact match.
Is Xlookup faster than VLOOKUP?
Compared to a normal VLOOKUP, the binary XLOOKUP is significantly faster. But a VLOOKUP with a approximate match is still a little bit faster. The binary XLOOKUP is slightly slower than an approximate VLOOKUP (~16% slower).
Can you put an if statement inside a VLOOKUP?
Did you know that you can use Excel IF statements along with VLOOKUPs? For example, if you wanted to enter a value from a table into a cell, based on what was in another cell, you could start with an IF statement and then enter the VLOOKUP in the “value if true” part of the IF statement.