vlookup - an introduction

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Microsoft Excel

An introduction to lookup function

Presentation by Vinod V Menon

Saturday, April 8, 2023An introduction to Microsoft Excel

+Topics covered

LOOKUP

VLOOKUP

HLOOKUP


+What is Lookup?

In Excel, the Lookup function returns a value from a range (one row or one column) or from an array.

Lookup is the simple function to return the value from a specific range.

This function looks for a piece of information in a list, and then picks an item from a second range of cells.

=LOOKUP(WhatToLookFor,RangeToLookIn,RangeToPickFrom)

The WhatToLookFor should be a single item.

The RangeToLook in can be either horizontal or vertical.

The RangeToPickFrom must have the same number of cells in it as the RangeToLookin.

Be careful not to include unnecessary heading in the ranges as these will cause errors.


+ Consider the table below

How to find the value of Eric for Feb?

Formula: =LOOKUP(“Eric”,D4:G10,F4:F10)

OR =LOOKUP(D8,D4:G10,F4:F10)

Answer: 120

D E F G

3 Name Jan Feb Mar

4 Alan 10 80 97

5 Bob 20 90 69

6 Carol 30 100 45

7 David 40 110 51

8 Eric 50 120 77

9 Francis 60 130 28

10 Gail 70 140 73


+Lookup - Example

Do you know? Microsoft originally marketed a spreadsheet program called Multiplan in 1982! Excel came out in 1985 – for MAC and in 1987 for Windows. Until then, world used only one software – Lotus 123


+What is lookup (Array)? This function looks for a piece of information in a list,

and then picks an item from the last cell in the adjacent row or column.

Formula: =LOOKUP(F12,D4:G10) OR LOOKUP(“Eric”,D4:G10)


+ What is Vlookup?

This function scans down the row headings at the side of a table to find a specified item.

When the item is found, it then scans across to pick a cell entry.

'=VLOOKUP(ItemToFind,RangeToLookIn,ColumnToPickFrom,SortedOrUnsorted)

The ItemToFind is a single item specified by the user.

The RangeToLookIn is the range of data with the row headings at the left hand side.

The ColumnToPickFrom is how far across the table the function should look to pick from.

The Sorted/Unsorted is whether the column headings are sorted. TRUE for yes, FALSE for no.


+ Consider the same example

Find the value of Eric for Feb?

=VLOOKUP(“Eric”,D3:G10,3,0) OR VLOOKUP(D8,D3:G10,3,0)

We put “Zero” to inform computer that we require the exact value

We put “one” to inform the computer that we require approximate value (nearest)

Answer is 120

D E F G

3 Name Jan Feb Mar

4 Alan 10 80 97

5 Bob 20 90 69

6 Carol 30 100 45

7 David 40 110 51

8 Eric 50 120 77

9 Francis 60 130 28

10 Gail 70 140 73


+VLOOKUP - example

Do you know? In a Excel 2007 Table, there are 16,000 Possible Columns and 1 Million possible Rows, that makes a total of 16,000,000,000 (16 Billion) Entries per table!


+What is Hlookup?

This function scans across the column headings at the top of a table to find a specified item. When the item is found, it then scans down the column to pick a cell entry.

=HLOOKUP(ItemToFind,RangeToLookIn,RowToPickFrom,SortedOrUnsorted)

The ItemToFind is a single item specified by the user.

The RangeToLookIn is the range of data with the column headings at the top.

The RowToPickFrom is how far down the column the function should look to pick from.

The Sorted/Unsorted is whether the column headings are sorted. TRUE (or 1) for yes, FALSE (or 0) for no.


+ Consider same table – horizontally plotted:

Find the value of Eric for Mar?

=HLOOKUP(E18,C18:H21,4,0) OR

=HLOOKUP(“Eric”,C18:H21,4,0)

Answer is 69

C D E F G H

18 Bob Eric Alan Carol David

19 Jan 10 20 30 40 50

20 Feb 80 90 100 110 120

21 Mar 97 69 45 51 77


+Hlookup - example

Open Office is a free and open alternative to Microsoft Office! This is developed by Sun Microsystems. Try it out at http://www.openoffice.org/


+Learn Excel!

Worksheet

This excel worksheet will help you to understand basic formulas and tricks in Excel.

Funny facts: Microsoft threatened 17 year old Mike Rowe with a lawsuit after the young man launched a website named MikeRoweSoft.com


+

Thank you

Any Questions?

vlookup - an introduction

Documents

microsoft

2010an introduction

row headings

cell entry

column headings

single item

function scans

excel