Introduction to the VLOOKUP Function

• DescriptionVLOOKUP function is used to search a value in

another table and if found return the corresponding value of that table for the specified column.

2

Types of VLOOKUP

• You can lookup values in one of the two following ways:– Range Lookup• Range lookup is used when you want to search for

ranges , it will look for nearest minimum value from the first column of the table i.e. if the table consists 70, 80, 90 … and you search for 75 it will destined to 70 as it is the nearest and the minimum value

– Exact Lookup• We use this kind of lookups when we need to seek

exact value

3

Syntax of VLOOKUP• =VLOOKUP(which_value_to_search, in_which_range_to_search,

column_num, [is_it_a_range_lookup])

• The function have 4 parameters

• which_value_to_search: This is the value you want to search in another table, it could be a value or a cell reference

• in_which_range_to_search : This is the range of that table in which you want the value to be searched

• column_num : This is the column number which contains the value you want to be returned if the required value found

• [is_it_a_range_lookup]: This is the final & optional parameter, which indicates that if it is true (range of values) else if false VLOOKUP will look for (exact value)

4

Practical Example of Range Lookup

• Requirements– For performing range lookups you have to cater

the following two requirements:• First column of the source table should contain the

values from which you want to search for

• The table in which you want to lookup value must be sorted in ascending order by the first column

5

Practical Example of Range Lookup – continued …

• Scenario - 1:– We have a table in which

data of the salespersons available along with their sales, we provide commissions to these sales persons on the basis of their sales which are as given

Sales Percent

>=0 0%

>=5,000 5%

>=10,000 7%

>=20,000 10%

6

Practical Example of Range Lookup – continued … This is the

which_value_to_search which we want to

look for in this case it is 11,200

This is the in_which_range_to_search where we want to search. Note we have put $ signs to make it absolute so

when we copy the formula downwards or rightwards it don’t

change its value

This is the column_number for which value to be returned

This parameter basically defines

that is_it_a_range_lookup 7

The answer of this examplewill be 7% or 0.07 as it will seekfor 11,200 and the nearestminimum value is 10,000The corresponding value for 10,000Is 7% so it will return 7%

Practical Example of Exact Lookup

• Scenario 1:You have a table of employees which contains

the Employee_ID, First_Name, Last_Name & their respective salaries, on another table you want to enter the days they are present for that specific month you need to calculate their salary based on their basic salary listed in master list.

8

Practical Example of Exact LookupThis is the

which_value_to_search which we want to

look for in this case it is 104

This is the in_which_range_to_search where we want to search. Note we have put

$ signs to make it absolute so when we copy the formula downwards or

rightwards it don’t change its value. As it is from another sheet it also contains

sheet name MasterList

This is the column_number for which value to be returned

This parameter basically defines that

this is not a is_it_a_range_lookup by

profiding a FALSE9

Answer for this example will be 7,100 which will than divided by 30 and multiplied by 20 which will return 4,733.33 (we have done the multiplication & division as we want Salary for the current month and the person attended only 20 days this month

Conclusion• VLOOKUP is used to look a value in another table• There are two kinds of lookups first is Range and other is

Exact• For range you need to sort the source table by its first

column in ascending order• For any lookup first column of source table should contain

the values in which you want to lookup

Please visit:www.exceladvise.com

For more

Please comment if you like it, or have anysuggestions.

10Photo Courtesy – www.freedigitalphotos.net