Often asked: When to use vlookup?

When should you use Vlookup?

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 is Vlookup and when would you use it?

VLOOKUP stands for ‘Vertical Lookup’. It is a function that makes Excel search for a certain value in a column (the so called ‘table array’), in order to return a value from a different column in the same row.

Why do we use Vlookup in Excel?

VLOOKUP is an Excel function to look up data in a table organized vertically. VLOOKUP supports approximate and exact matching, and wildcards (*?) for partial matches. Lookup values must appear in the first column of the table passed into VLOOKUP.

How do you use Vlookup correctly?

How to use VLOOKUP in Excel

1. Click the cell where you want the VLOOKUP formula to be calculated.
2. Click “Formula” at the top of the screen.
3. Click “Lookup & Reference” on the Ribbon.
4. Click “VLOOKUP” at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
5. Specify the cell in which you will enter the value whose data you’re looking for.

What is the difference between lookup and Vlookup?

The LOOKUP function. The function performs a rough match lookup either in a one-row or one-column range and returns the corresponding value from another one-row or one-column range. While VLOOKUP searches for the value in a column, HLOOKUP searches for the value in a row.

Why is Vlookup bad?

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.

How do I do a Vlookup in Excel with two tabs?

How to use the formula to Vlookup across sheets

1. Write down all the lookup sheet names somewhere in your workbook and name that range (Lookup_sheets in our case).
2. Adjust the generic formula for your data.
3. Enter the formula in the topmost cell (B2 in this example) and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to complete it.

How do I compare two lists in Excel?

A Ridiculously easy and fun way to compare 2 lists

1. Select cells in both lists (select first list, then hold CTRL key and then select the second)
2. Go to Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Duplicate Values.
3. Press ok.
4. There is nothing do here. Go out and play!

Why is pivot table used in Excel?

A Pivot Table is used to summarise, sort, reorganise, group, count, total or average data stored in a table. It allows us to transform columns into rows and rows into columns. It allows grouping by any field (column), and using advanced calculations on them.

How do you use Excel pivot tables?

Excel will create a PivotTable on a new sheet, and display the PivotTable Fields List.

1. Click a cell in the source data or table range.
2. Go to Insert > PivotTable.
3. Excel will display the Create PivotTable dialog with your range or table name selected.

How do you do a Vlookup on sheets?

In your Google Sheet, click Add-ons > Multiple VLOOKUP Matches > Start, and define the lookup criteria:

1. Select the range with your data (A1:D9).
2. Specify how many matches to return (all in our case).
3. Choose which columns to return the data from (Item, Amount and Status).
4. Set one or more conditions.

How do I do a Vlookup to compare two columns?

How to Compare Two Columns in Excel

1. Click the Compare two columns worksheet tab in the VLOOKUP Advanced Sample file.
2. Add columns in your workbook so you have space for results.
3. Type the first VLOOKUP formula in cell E2:
4. Click Enter on your keyboard and drag the VLOOKUP formula down through cell C17.

How do I do a Vlookup with two criteria?

VLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria – Using a Helper Column

1. Insert a Helper Column between column B and C.
2. Use the following formula in the helper column:=A2&”|”&B2.
3. Use the following formula in G3 =VLOOKUP($F3&”|”&G$2,$C$2:$D$19,2,0)
4. Copy for all the cells.