Excel VLOOKUP Multiple Values

DECEMBER 7, 2011 BY MYNDA TREACY 120 COMMENTS

Fo so!e o" us #e use t$e VLOOKUP "u%ctio% all t$e ti!e a%& "o t$e !ost pat is &oes
exactl' #$at #e #a%t, (ut #$at i" 'ou #a%t to loo)up !ultiple colu!%s*
+a)i%, t$e exa!ple (elo#- i% cell B. / $a0e a &ata 0ali&atio% list t$at allo#s !e to
c$oose t$e pla'e / #a%t to loo) up1
+$e% i% cell C. / $a0e t$e 2UM o" t$e Pa' Rises "o 2003 t$ou,$ to 2004 "o t$at pla'e1
i1e1 t$e 0alues i% colu!%s D, E a%& F1
5it$ a (it o" $elp "o! a% 6a' "o!ula #e ca% use ou tust' VLOOKUP to &o 7ust
t$is1
VLOOKUP Multiple Values Forula
/% cell C. / use& t$e "ollo#i%, "o!ula to ac$ie0e t$is !ultiple VLOOKUP esult8
9:2UM;VLOOKUP;B.,+a(le1<<=a!e>8<Pa' Rise 2004>>,93,?,4@,F6L2EAA@
Note: This is an array formula and so the curly brackets at the beginning and end are
entered by Excel automatically when you enter the formula by pressing
CTRL+S!"T+E#TER but you need to type the curly brackets in the middle around the
$%&'&() as Excel doesn*t automatically enter these+ ,ore on Excel array formulas+
T!e S"#ta$ %or t!e a&o'e %orula is(
:2UM;VLOOKUP;loo)upB0alue,ta(leBaa',colBi%&exB%u!,<a%,eBloo)up>AA
Bea)i%, eac$ co!po%e%t o" t$e "o!ula &o#%8
11 loo)upB0alue8 B. C +$is is t$e %a!e #e c$oose "o! t$e &ata 0ali&atio% list1
21 ta(leBaa' 8 +a(le1<<=a!e>8<Pa' Rise 2004>> C Ou ta(le o &ata a%,e is
a% Excel +a(le $e%ce t$e &ata a%,e $as t$e %a!e D+a(le1E1 You coul& easil'
eplace t$is e"ee%ce #it$ a e,ula &ata a%,e e1,1 F6FG8FFF.3 o a %a!e& a%,e1
.1 colBi%&exB%u!8 93,?,4@ C Usuall' t$e colu!% i%&ex %u!(e #ill (e 7ust o%e
colu!% i% 'ou ta(le, (ut (ecause #e #a%t to e"ee%ce . colu!%s, ;Pa' Rise 2003,
200? a%& 2004A, #eE0e use& a% aa' #$ic$ $ouses t$e . colu!%s #e #a%t to
e"ee%ce ;t$e aa' is &e"i%e& (' t$e cul' (ac)etsA1
31 <a%,eBloo)up>8 F6L2E C t$is si!pl' i%stucts Excel to "i%& a% exact !atc$ "o
t$e
?1 2UM C 2u! t$e esults "o! colu!%s 3, ? a%& 41
VLOOKUP Multiple Citeia
/ $a& a% e!ail "o! Bo(cat to&a' as)i%, $o# to loo)up &ata t$at is spea& acoss
!ultiple colu!%s1
+a(le 1 $as &ata #it$ t$e %a!e i% 7ust o%e
colu!%8
6%& +a(le 2 $as t$e %a!e acoss
. colu!%s ;D, E a%& FA8

5e #a%t to "i%& t$e E!plo'ee
%u!(e "o! +a(le 1 a%& put it i% colu!% H o" +a(le 21
+$e solutio% is Iuite si!ple1 5e 7ust %ee& to 7oi% to,et$e t$e cells co%tai%i%, t$e %a!e
i% +a(le 2, (e"oe loo)i%, t$e! up i% +a(le 11
5e ca% &o t$is #it$i% a VLOOKUP "o!ula li)e t$is8
:VLOOKUP;D4JK KJE4JK KJF4,ta(leB1,2,F6L2EA
#ote: table-. in the abo/e formula is the named range for cells 0(:1..
2ee i% t$e "o!ula (a $o# /E0e 7oi%e& t$e text "o! colu!%s D, E a%& F to,et$e usi%,
t$e a!pesa%& s'!(ol1 /E0e also a&&e& a space (et#ee% t$e text (' i%seti%, &ou(le
Iuotes #it$ a space (et#ee%1
+$e VLOOKUP "o!ula is esol0i%, t$e D4JL MJE4JL MJF4 a,u!e%ts o" t$e "o!ula
li)e t$is8
:VLOOKUP;5illia! N Oxle',ta(leB1,2,F6L2EA
Excel VLOOKUP to t$e Le"t Usi%, COOO2E
6 little #$ile a,o / s$o#e& 'ou $o# to &o a loo)up to t$e le"t usi%, t$e /=DEP a%&
M6+CO "u%ctio%s1
/% t$is Excel tutoial /E! ,oi%, to s$o# 'ou $o# 'ou ca% &o a loo)up to t$e le"t #it$ a
VLOOKUP "o!ula to,et$e #it$ t$e COOO2E "u%ctio% as a% alte%ati0e1
Fist o" all letEs loo) at ou &ata8
/% t$is exa!ple #e #a%t to loo) up t$e Volu!e i% colu!% E "o t$e &ate 2QR01R2011 i%
colu!% K1 6s #e )%o#, a VLOOKUP ca%%ot ,o le"t, (ut #it$ t$e $elp o" t$e COOO2E
"u%ctio% #e ca% tic) it i%to ,oi%, le"t1
Fist o" all letEs u%&esta%& $o# t$e COOO2E "u%ctio% #o)s8
+$is is t$e s'%tax i% Excel8
:COOO2E;i%&exB%u!, 0alue1, 0alue2, 0alue.S11up to 2?3 0aluesA
+$e s'%tax is %ot 0e' use"ul as usualT +o ta%slate it i%to E%,lis$8
:COOO2E;0alue %u!(e . #$ee, 0alue 1 : 6, 0alue 2 : B, 0alue . : CA
+$e esult is C
=o# #e ca% ,et ceati0e (' speci"'i%, !oe t$a% o%e i%&ex %u!(e #it$ t$e $elp o"
cul' (ac)ets 9 @, a%& i%stea& o" speci"'i%, t$e 0alues ;li)e #e &i& a(o0e #it$ 6, B a%&
CA #e ca% e"e to a a%,e o" cells li)e t$is8
:COOO2E;91,2@,FKF28FKF207,FEF28FEF207A
/% E%,lis$ t$is "o!ula ea&s8
: ;9colu!% 1 is K , a%& colu!% 2 is EA
E""ecti0el' s#itc$i%, t$e positio%s o" colu!% E a%& K so t$at t$e VLOOKUP #ill t$i%)
colu!% K is to t$e le"t o" colu!% E1 Cle0e, $u$*
=o#, o% its o#%, li)e t$e exa!ple a(o0e, COOO2E is %ot !uc$ use (ut #$e% 'ou use it
i% a VLOOKUP it e%a(les us to tic) Excel i%to etu%i%, t$e 0alue to t$e le"t o" ou
loo)up colu!%1
Ou "o!ula to loo) up &ate 2Q
t$
Na%ua' 2011 i% colu!% K a%& etu% t$e 0alue i%
colu!% E ;colu!% %u!(e 2A is8
:VLOOKUP;D6+E;2011,1,2QA,COOO2E;91,2@,FKF28FKF207,FEF28FEF207A,2,0A
+a%slate&8
:VLOOKUP;"i%& 2QR01R2011 i% colu!% K a%& etu% t$e 0alue i% colu!% EA
Result 7,222,32?
NOTE: when you want to reference a date in a formula you need to tell Excel it is a date
using the 20TE function& alternati/ely you can use the date*s serial /alue+ owe/er& !
find the 20TE function more intuiti/e and easier to follow when ! re/isit a formula later
on+ 0lternati/ely you could reference another cell that contains the date in the correct
date format+
T)P( 5e ca% !a)e t$is "o!ula a little easie to use (' c$a%,i%, t$e cell a%,e e"ee%ces
to "ull colu!% e"ee%ces1 +$is #ill #o) i% t$is i%sta%ce (ecause t$ee is %o ot$e &ata i%
ou colu!%s ot$e t$a% t$at #$ic$ is i% ou ta(le1
5it$ "ull colu!% e"ee%ces ou "o!ula loo)s li)e t$is8
:VLOOKUP;D6+E;2011,1,2QA,COOO2E;91,2@,K8K,E8EA,2,0A
Excel VLOOKUP #it$ D'%a!ic Colu!% Re"ee%ce
/" 'ou e0e #o) #it$ la,e ta(les o" &ata a%& 'ou #a%t to i%set a VLOOKUP "o!ula
t$at &'%a!icall' up&ates to t$e %ext colu!% as 'ou cop' it acoss, t$e% t$e VLOOKUP
#it$ t$e COLUM=2 "u%ctio% is #$at 'ou %ee&1
+$at is- t$e colBi%&exB%u! pat o" t$e VLOOKUP "u%ctio% &'%a!icall' up&ates as 'ou
cop' it acoss 'ou #o)s$eet1
:VLOOKUP;loo)upB0alue,ta(leBaa',colBi%&exB%u!,<a%,eBloo)up>A
Fo t$is exa!ple / &o#%loa&e& t$e cue%t top 10 selli%, (oo)s "o! 6!aUo% C see
(elo#1
Boo) %u!(e 2 sou%&s li)e it !i,$t $a0e so!e tips "o ,etti%, !' t#o (o's to (e&S
!ust put it o% !' s$oppi%, listSS 2o', / &i,ess1
O), letEs i!a,i%e t$is list is $u%&e&s o e0e% t$ousa%&s o" o#s lo%, a%& #e #a%t to "i%&
a Iuic) #a' to ,et pices a%& aut$o i%"o!atio% o% &e!a%& ;ot$e t$a% C+RLVF "o
Fi%& o" couseA1
/% t$e ta(le (elo# #e $a0e t$e Boo) +itle, 6ut$o a%& Pice1
+$e (oo) title is "ou%& usi%, a Data Vali&atio% List o Dop Do#% List, a%& i% colu!% C
a%& D #e %ee& a VLOOKUP "o!ula t$at "i%&s t$e 6ut$o a%& Pice especti0el'1
5e coul& &o t$is usi%, a% o&i%a' VLOOKUP "o!ula li)e t$is8
/% cell C14
:VLOOKUP;FB14,FBF38FDF1.,2,F6L2EA
6%& i% cell D14
:VLOOKUP;FB14,FBF38FDF1.,.,F6L2EA
But #e %ee& to !a%uall' e&it t$e colu!% e"ee%ce "o eac$ colu!% #e cop' t$e
VLOOKUP acoss to1
3o here for a refresher on the 4L55678 function+
6%& i" #eE0e ,ot a lot o" colu!%s t$at #e #a%t to loo) up, t$e% i%stea& o" $a& co&i%,
t$e colu!% e"ee%ce %u!(e itEs !uc$ Iuic)e to use t$e COLUM=2 "u%ctio% li)e t$is8
/% cell C14
:VLOOKUP;FB14,FBF38FDF1.,COLUM=2;FB38B3AV1,0A
6%& i% cell D14
:VLOOKUP;FB14,FBF38FDF1.,COLUM=2;FB38C3AV1,0A
#ote: ,ake sure you use the C5L7,#S 9plural: not C5L7,# as they work ;uite
differently+
5$atEs ,oi%, o% #it$ t$e COLUM=2 "u%ctio%*
+$e COLUM=2 "u%ctio% etu%s t$e %u!(e o" colu!%s i% a% aa'1
+$e s'%tax is :COLUM=2;aa'A, #$ee Daa'E is t$e colu!% a%,e1 Fo exa!ple8
:COLUM=2;B38B3A ,i0es us 1 i1e1 t$e aa' is 1 colu!% #i&e1
2o all #eEe eall' &oi%, is calculati%, t$e colu!% %u!(e #e #a%t usi%, t$e
COLUM=2 "u%ctio%1
#ote: 1%:1% could <ust as easily been plain 1:1 like this =C5L7,#S91:1:& as it doesn*t
really matter what the row reference is+
VLOOKUP usi%, COLUM=2 Fu%ctio% Explai%e&
/% ou VLOOKUP "o!ula a(o0e ;i% cell C14A, ou COLUM=2 "o!ula is
COLUM=2;FB38B3AV1, (ecause8
11 t$e colu!% #e #a%t etu%e& is t$e seco%& colu!% i% ou VLOOKUP ta(le,
21 a%& si%ce :COLUM=2;FB38B3A e0aluates to 1 #e %ee& to a&& 1 to ,et 2 "o t$e
seco%& colu!%1
Excel VLOOKUP C 2ote& List Explai%e&
2EP+EMBER 22, 2010 BY MYNDA TREACY *+ COMMENTS

i%2$ae

/% !' pe0ious Excel VLOOKUP tutoial / tol& 'ou t$at t$ee ae t#o #a's 'ou ca% use
a VLOOKUP (ut !ost people )%o# o%e #a' o t$e ot$e, a%& o%l' a "e# )%o# (ot$1
/" 'ou $a0e%Et ea& t$e "ist aticle t$e% ea& it "ist to ,et a% u%&esta%&i%, o" $o# a
VLOOKUP #o)s1
6s po!ise& $eeEs t$e seco%& #a' to use it, a%& / call it t$e 2ote& List 0esio% as it
elies o% t$e &ata i% t$e ta(le 'ou ae e"ee%ci%, (ei%, sote&1
Fist letEs s set t$e sce%e8
/% t$e list (elo# #e #a%t to calculate a co!!issio% i% colu!% E "o eac$ (uil&e1 Ou
co!!issio% pece%ta,e is (ase& o% #$ee t$e D+otal F)E "i,ue "alls i%to t$e a%,es i% ou
ta(le i% colu!%s HW/1
VLOOKUP s"#ta$(
VLOOKUP;loo)upB0alue, ta(leBaa', colBi%&exB%u!, a%,eBloo)upA
A#, to tra#slate it i#to E#-lis! it .oul, rea,(
VLOOKUP;"i%& t$is 0alue, i% t$at ta(le, etu% t$e 0alue i% colu!% x o" t$e ta(leA
YouEll %otice / $a0e%Et ta%slate& t$e last pat o" t$e "o!ula Da%,eBloo)upE1 U%li)e t$e
VLOOKUP Exact Matc$ 0esio% #$ee #e put DFalseE i% t$is positio%, #it$ t$e 2ote&
List 0esio% #e #a%t Excel to "i%& t$e %ext (est optio% i% ou ta(le, a%& so #e lea0e
Da%,eBloo)upE (la%)1
Let/s a0e it e'e# 1learer &" appl"i#- it to ro. * i# our e$aple(
Re!e!(e #e #a%t Excel to "i%& t$e Co!!issio% X Rate a%& e%te it i% cell E., so i%
E%,lis$ ou "o!ula #ill ea&8
VLOOKUP;"i%& #$ee +otal F) a!ou%t F.,112, "alls i% t$e Co!!issio% Rates ta(le
H.8/10, etu% t$e 0alue i% colu!% . o" t$e ta(leA
6%& to e%te it i% ou spea&s$eet ou "o!ula i% colu!% E "o t$e a(o0e exa!ple #oul&
(e8
:VLOOKUP;D.,FHF.8F/F10,.A
Let e 1lari%" soe poi#ts(
1A 2%i#, .!ere Total 30 aou#t 3*41124 %alls i# t!e Coissio# Rates ta&le/ C
Excel &oes%Et actuall' ta)e i%to co%si&eatio% colu!% O i% ou ta(le1 / $a0e si!pl' put it
t$ee to $elp u%&esta%& t$e co!!issio% a%,es1 Excel is i% "act loo)i%, "o t$e exact
a!ou%t F.,112 i% ou Co!!issio% Rates ta(le, a%& #$e% it ca%Et "i%& it, it "i%&s t$e %ext
(est lo.er a!ou%t a%& etu%s t$e 0alue i% colu!% .1
2A 2Retur# t!e 'alue i# 1olu# * o% t!e ta&le/ is e"ei%, to t$e colu!% %u!(e i%
t$e ta(le H.8/10, %ot t$e colu!% %u!(e o" t$e spea&s$eet1 +$e i%"o!atio% #e #a%t
etu%e& is t$e pece%ta,e ate, a%& it is i% t$e t$i& colu!% o" t$e Co!!issio% Rates
ta(le1
.A /" #e $a& &uplicates i% ou Co!!issio% Rates ta(le Excel #ill "i%& t$e last i%sta%ce
o" t$e 0alue a%& etu% t$e esult i% colu!% .1 Fo exa!ple, i" i%stea& o" t$e a!ou%t
F3001 i% cell HG, 'ou $a& F.001 a,ai%1 Excel #oul& etu% t$e 0alue o" 4X as itEs
"i%&i%, t$e last (est !atc$ "o ou a!ou%t1 +$e tip $ee is to e!o0e a%' &uplicates o
'ouEll e%& up #it$ eo%eous esults1
3A U%li)e t$e VLOOKUP Exact Matc$ 0esio% o" t$e "o!ula, t$is 0esio% eIuies
t$e list to (e sote& i% asce%&i%, o&e1 Nust li)e #it$ &uplicates explai%e& a(o0e, i" itEs
%ot sote& 'ou #ill e%& up #it$ eo%eous esults1
YouEll %otice i% t$e "o!ula (a a(o0e t$ee ae DFE si,%s aou%& t$e e"ee%ce to t$e
ta(le1 +$is is calle& a% a(solute e"ee%ce a%& it allo#s us to cop' t$e "o!ula &o#%
colu!% E #it$out Excel &'%a!icall' up&ati%, t$e ta(le a%,e as #e cop'1
5o. 1a# .e a0e t!is %orula e'e# &etter6
6s #it$ ou Exact Matc$ exa!ple letEs assu!e t$e e%& esult o" ou exa!ple execise is
to calculate t$e co!!issio% F a!ou%t1 6,ai% #e ca% &o t$is i% o%e step i% colu!% E1
LetEs sa' ou co!!issio% is calculate& as +otal F) x Co!!issio% X, ou "o!ula i% cell
E. #oul& ea&8
:VLOOKUP;D.,FHF.8F/F10,.AYD.
Oope"ull' %o# 'ou ca% (e,i% to appeciate #$' t$e VLOOKUP is !' "a0ouite
"o!ula1 +$e co%cept (e$i%& it is pett' (asic (ut it $as a!aUi%, PO5ER1 Especiall'
#$e% 'ou tea! it up #it$ ot$e "o!ulas li)e /F state!e%ts, 2UM/F a%& so o%1
/% ou VLOOKUP "o!ula i% cell D14 ou COLUM=2 "u%ctio% is
COLUM=2;FB38C3AV1 a%& it e0aluates to 2V1:.
5eE0e use& a% a(solute cell e"ee%ce o% FB38C3 ;:2A so t$at #$e% #e copie& t$e
VLOOKUP "o!ula acoss "o! C14 to D14 t$e COLUM=2 pat o" t$e "o!ula #ill
auto!aticall' i%cease (' 1 ;"o! B38B3 to B38C3A to ,i0e us t$e coect colu!% %u!(e1
6lte%ati0e to usi%, COLUM=2 is t$e M6+CO "u%ctio%
6s a% alte%ati0e i% !' /=DEP M6+CO tutoial / s$o# 'ou $o# 'ou ca% use t$e
M6+CO "u%ctio% to ceate a &'%a!ic colu!% e"ee%ce1 Nust a%ot$e #a' to s)i% a cat1
+$e li!itatio% o" t$e M6+CO "u%ctio% use& t$is #a' is t$at t$e VLOOKUP "o!ula a%&
t$e ta(leBaa' !ust co%tai% colu!% $ea&es t$at ae t$e sa!e1
2ee exa!ple to#a&s (otto! o" /=DEP M6+CO tutoial1
OLOOKUP #it$ RO52
2i!ila to usi%, VLOOKUP a%& COLUM=2, #e ca% use t$e RO52 "u%ctio% #it$
OLOOKUP to ac$ie0e t$e sa!e e""ect, (ut "o t$e o# %u!(e1
2'%tax "o RO52 "u%ctio%8
:RO52;aa'A #$ee Daa'E is t$e o# a%,e1 Fo exa!ple8
:RO52;B38B3A ,i0es us 1 i1e1 t$e aa' is 1 o# $i,$1
E$1el VLOOKUP E$a1t Mat1! Forulas E$plai#e,
VLOOKUP is !' "a0ouite Excel Fo!ulaT Pe$aps (ecause it #as o%e o" t$e "ist
"o!ulas / !astee& t$at ,a0e !e a% i%si,$t i%to t$e po#e o" Excel a%& $o# it coul&
$elp !e i% !' 7o(1
/t e%a(les 'ou to ,et a%al'sis a%& calculatio%s &o%e i% !i%utes t$at #oul& ta)e $ous
!a%uall'1 6%& o%ce 'ou !aste it 'ouEll "i%& 'ou $a0e t$e occasio% to use it all t$e ti!e1
/%teesti%,l' t$eeEs t#o #a's 'ou ca% use it (ut / "i%& t$at !ost people )%o# o%e #a' o
t$e ot$e, a%& o%l' a "e# )%o# (ot$1
/% t$is aticle #eEe ,oi%, ta)e a loo) at t$e Exact Matc$ 0esio% o" t$e "o!ula, (ut "ist
letEs set t$e sce%e1
1y the way& the other way is what ! call the Sorted List 4L55678+
/% t$e list (elo# #e #a%t to calculate a co!!issio% i% colu!% F "o eac$ (uil&e1 But
eac$ (uil&e $as a speci"ic co!!issio% ate t$e' ae e%title& to1 +$a%)"ull' #e $a0e t$is
i%"o!atio% i% a ta(le to t$e i,$t, a%& t$is is #$ee #e ,i0e VLOOKUP t$e oppotu%it'
to stut its stu""1
T!e S"#ta$ is(
VLOOKUP;loo)upB0alue, ta(leBaa', colBi%&exB%u! ,a%,eBloo)upA
A#, to tra#slate it i#to E#-lis! it .oul, rea,(
VLOOKUP;"i%& t$is 0alue, i% t$at ta(le, etu% t$e 0alue i% colu!% x o" t$e ta(le, (ut
o%l' etu% a esult i" 'ou ca% !atc$ t$e 0alue exactl'A
LetEs !a)e it e0e% cleae (' appl'i%, it to ou exa!ple8
VLOOKUP;"i%& t$e %a!e Dou, "o! cell B2, i% t$e Co!!issio% Rates ta(le O28/Q,
etu% t$e 0alue i% colu!% 2 o" t$e ta(le, (ut o%l' etu% a 0alue i" 'ou "i%& t$e exact
%a!e Dou, i% t$e Co!!issio% Rates ta(le, ot$e#ise ,i0e !e a% eoA
Firstl" let e 1lari%" soe poi#ts(
1A 2Retur# t!e 'alue i# 1olu# 2 o% t!e ta&le/ is e"ei%, to t$e colu!% %u!(e i%
t$e ta(le O28/Q, %ot t$e colu!% %u!(e o" t$e spea&s$eet1 +$e i%"o!atio% #e #a%t
etu%e& is t$e pece%ta,e ate, a%& it is i% t$e seco%& colu!% o" t$e Co!!issio% Rates
ta(le1
2A 2O#l" retur# a result i% "ou 1a# at1! t!e 'alue e$a1tl"/ is telli%, Excel t$at #e
o%l' #a%t i%"o!atio% etu%e& i" it !atc$es ou citeia exactl'1 i1e1 Fi%& Dou, i% ou
Co!!issio% Rates +a(le, a%& i" 'ou ca%Et "i%& Dou,, ,i0e !e a% eo1 +$e eo
&ispla'e& #ill (e Z=R61
O% t$e ot$e $a%&, i" #e tol& Excel it #as o) to #ot "i%& a% exact !atc$, it #oul& etu%
t$e %ext (est esult1 i1e1 /" Dou, #as%Et i% ou +a(le Excel #oul& etu% t$e %ext (est
esult1 /% t$is exa!ple #e #oul&%Et #a%t it to &o t$at, (ut t$is optio% is $a%&' i% ot$e
situatio%s #$ic$ #eEll co0e i% a%ot$e tutoial1
OK, %o# t$atEs clai"ie&, i% Excel ou "o!ula i% colu!% F "o t$e a(o0e exa!ple #oul&
(e8
:VLOOKUP;B2,FOF28F/FQ,2,F6L2EA

=ote8 5$ee DF6L2EE is telli%, Excel #e #a%t it to "i%& a% Exact Matc$ o%l'1
Ou Excel ta(le #oul& t$e% loo) li)e t$is #it$ t$e VLOOKUP "o!ula i% colu!% F8
YouEll %otice i% t$e "o!ula (a a(o0e t$ee ae DFE si,%s aou%& t$e e"ee%ce to t$e ta(le
O28/Q1 +$is is calle& a% a(solute e"ee%ce a%& it allo#s us to Iuic)l' cop' t$e "o!ula
&o#% colu!% F #it$out Excel &'%a!icall' up&ati%, t$e ta(le a%,e as #e cop'1
5o. 1a# .e a0e t!is VLOOKUP %orula e'e# &etter6
6ssu!i%, t$e e%& esult o" ou exa!ple execise is to actuall' calculate t$e co!!issio% F
a!ou%t, #e coul& !a)e t$is "o!ula e0e% (ette (' &oi%, t$is i% o%e step i% colu!% F1
LetEs sa' co!!issio% is calculate& as +otal F) x Co!!issio% X, ou "o!ula i% cell F2
#oul& ea&8
:VLOOKUP;B2,FOF28F/FQ,2,F6L2EAYE2
6%& i% seco%&s #e ca% $a0e $u%&e&s o" calculatio%s &o%eT
Rules4 Coo# Mista0es a#, Trou&les!ooti#-7
1A VLOOKUP "o!ulas ea& "o! le"t to i,$t1 You !ust $a0e t$e i%"o!atio% 'ou
ae loo)i%, up ;i% ou exa!ple Dou, i% t$e Co!!issio% Rates +a(leA, i% a colu!% to t$e
le"t o" t$e i%"o!atio% 'ou #a%t etu%e&, i% ou exa!ple t$e Dpece%ta,e ateE1 i1e1 it $as
to ,o DDou,E, t$e% DX ateE1 Excel #oul&%Et (e a(le to "i%& it i" it #e%t DX RateE t$e%
DDou,E1
2A You ca% $a0e as !a%' colu!%s as 'ou li)e i% 'ou +a(le, 7ust so lo%, as 'ou "ollo#
t$e Dle"t to i,$tE ule a(o0e1
.A +$e D+a(leE 'ou ae loo)i%, up ca% (e i% t$e sa!e spea&s$eet, o a &i""ee%t s$eet
i% t$e sa!e #o)(oo), o i% a &i""ee%t #o)(oo) alto,et$e1
3A +$e ta(le &oes%Et $a0e to (e sote& i% a%' paticula o&e, (ut 'ou !ust %ot $a0e
&uplicates, u%less t$e i%"o!atio% o% eac$ &uplicate is exactl' t$e sa!e1 Fo exa!ple, i"
Dou, appeae& t#ice i% ou Co!!issio% Rates ta(le #it$ &i""ee%t pece%ta,e ates "o
eac$ i%sta%ce, Micoso"t Excel #oul& etu% t$e ate o% t$e "ist i%sta%ce o" Dou,1
?A +$e "o!ula is%Et case se%siti0e, so DDou,E coul& (e D&ou,E o DDou,E i% eit$e colu!%
B o t$e ta(le1
4A 5$at &oes it !ea% #$e% !' VLOOKUP etu%s a Z=R6* /t !ea%s Excel ca%Et "i%&
t$e 0alue 'ouEe t'i%, to loo) up i% 'ou ta(le1 /" 'ou ,et t$is, (ut 'ou ca% Dplai% as &a'E
see itEs t$ee i% t$e ta(le1 +$e% itEs li)el' 'ouE0e ,ot o%e 0alue "o!atte& as +ext a%&
a%ot$e "o!atte& as He%eal1 +o c$ec) t$is ,o to eac$ cell 'ouEe e"ee%ci%, a%& loo)
i% t$e "o!ula (a to see i" o%e is pe"ixe& (' a% apostop$e D1 You ca% o%l' see t$e
apostop$e "o! t$e "o!ula (a1 2ee exa!ple (elo#1
Basicall' Excel ea&s text pe"ixe& #it$ a% apostop$e as &i""ee%t to text #it$out, e0e%
t$ou,$ o% t$e "ace o" t$e spea&s$eet t$e' !i,$t loo) t$e sa!e1 You %ee& to !a)e sue
(ot$ t$e 0alue 'ouEe loo)i%, up, a%& t$e 0alue i% t$e ta(le eit$e (ot$ $a0e t$e
apostop$e, o (ot$ &o%Et1 +$e Iuic)est #a' to ,et i& o" t$e apostop$es is to &o D+ext to
Colu!%sE, o u% it t$ou,$ t$e V6LUE "u%ctio%, #$ic$ co%0ets %u!(es "o!atte& as
text to actual %u!(es1
7A +$is "o!ula #o)s t$e sa!e i% Micoso"t Excel 200., 2007, 2010 a%& 201.1
+$e VLOOKUP is a "ail' (asic "o!ula, (ut its applicatio%s ae 0ast, especiall' #$e%
'ou co!(i%e it #it$ ot$e "o!ulas li)e /F state!e%ts, 2UM/F a%& so o%1