VLOOKUP is a powerful
Excel function that allows you to look for a specified value in one column of
data inside a table, and then fetch a value from another column in the same
row.
Basically, VLOOKUP
lets you search for specific information in your spreadsheet. For example, if
you have a list of products with prices, you could search for the price of a
specific item.
1.Create your
spreadsheet. You must have at least two columns of information for Vlookup to
work, but you can have as many as you need.
2.In a blank cell type
the Vlookup formula. In the cell, enter this formula: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value,
table_array, col_index_num, range_lookup).
You can use any cell
to write this is, but remember that whatever cell you choose is entered as the
“lookup value” in your function code.
Refer to the guide
above for the information about what each of those values should be. Following
our same example of a student list using the aforementioned values, our Vlookup
formula would look like this: =VLOOKUP(F3,A2:B32,2,FALSE)
3.Expand the Vlookup
function to include other cells. Select the cell with your Vlookup code. In the
bottom right corner, select the cell handle and drag it to include one or more
other cells.
This allows you to
search using Vlookup, because you must have at least two cells in order to have
an input/output of information.
You can enter the
purpose of each cell in an adjacent (but not joined) cell. For example, to the
left of the box where you search for a student, you can put “Student Names.”
4.Test Vlookup. To do
this, enter the lookup value, as per our example it would be the name of a
student, in one of the cells that you included in your Vlookup code. Then,
Vlookup should automatically supply you with the grade of said student in the
adjoined cell.
