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Vlook Up

VLOOKUP allows users to look up values from one part of a workbook and retrieve information from another location. The VLOOKUP formula searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table and returns a corresponding value from the same row in a specified column number. It is useful for looking up large amounts of data. The F4 button locks references to prevent the formula from changing as it is copied. There are common errors like incorrect column numbers or missing lookup values that can occur when using VLOOKUP.

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Kathryn Paradisos
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73 views2 pages

Vlook Up

VLOOKUP allows users to look up values from one part of a workbook and retrieve information from another location. The VLOOKUP formula searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table and returns a corresponding value from the same row in a specified column number. It is useful for looking up large amounts of data. The F4 button locks references to prevent the formula from changing as it is copied. There are common errors like incorrect column numbers or missing lookup values that can occur when using VLOOKUP.

Uploaded by

Kathryn Paradisos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNDERSTANDING VLOOKUP

WHAT IS VLOOKUP?

In basic terms, VLOOKUP is used to look up a value from a different location in your
workbook. It’s useful because when dealing with large amounts of data because you always
need to look things up.

THE FORMULA

See below the formula as it would appear in excel:


=Vlookup (lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

Now look at the meaning behind them the technical terms:

=Vlookup (Find this value/number, in this list, and give me the corresponding information in
column number #, it should be an exact match)

VLOOKUP looks for a value in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a value
in the same row that you specify.

 Make sure the reference (look up) is always the first column in your documents
 For ease of reference number the columns in your source information
 Before you start always make sure your data is clean and formatted

THE F4

The F4 button creates an Dollar sign $ - This is used to locked the selection. We need to tell
the formula that we only want it to look up from that one set ‘look up’ table – we want to make
sure the formula STICKS to that section=VLOOKUP(A2,LCP!$1:$1048576,4,FALSE)

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TRUE will look for the value closest (but always below).

FALSE will look for an exact match.

WRITING YOUR OWN VLOOKUP FORMULA

There is a 6 step process for writing your own Vlookup formula.

Step 1: Type =Vlookup (in the respective cells you would like to data to show.
Step 2: Select the lookup value that you would like to search in the table array or list.
Step 3: Select the database or list you want to retrieve the data from.
NB: Make sure the lookup value/ID/employee number is in the first column of the list to
ensure that you can perform the lookup
Step 4: Press F4 to ensure that your list cannot change.
Step 5: Type the number of the column in the list you need information from.
Step 6: Type FALSE.

ERRORS WHILE USING VLOOKUP

You might encounter the following errors while using Vlookup.


Error Symbol Possible Cause
The column number you have selected falls outside the list. Check the number of the
#REF!
column again.
The lookup number you have provide is incorrect or the lookup value is not the
#N/A
list.

TIPS

When copying a formula, it’s important to open the formulas, copy and close the formula.
Without closing it will edit the function.

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