VLOOKUP is a powerful function in Excel that allows you to search for a specific value in a data table and fetch corresponding information from a different column within the same table. However, when using VLOOKUP, you might encounter situations where you need to bring a specific value instead of the respective lookup value. In this article, we will explore different approaches to achieving this requirement.
Using VLOOKUP with TRUE as the fourth argument
By default, the fourth argument (range_lookup) in VLOOKUP is set to FALSE or 0, meaning an exact match is required. However, to bring a specific value rather than the lookup value, you need to change it to TRUE or 1. This argument enables approximate matching and enables you to fetch the desired value.
Let’s consider an example. Suppose you have a table with employee names and their corresponding IDs. You want to display the employee ID associated with a specific employee name. Thus, your VLOOKUP formula would be:
=VLOOKUP(“John”, A2:B10, 2, TRUE)
Here, “John” is the lookup value, A2:B10 is the table range, 2 represents the second column where the desired value is located, and TRUE indicates that you want to allow approximate matching.
**Using CHOOSE Function along with VLOOKUP**
Another way to bring a specific value when using VLOOKUP is by combining it with the CHOOSE function. The CHOOSE function allows you to select a value from a list based on a specified index. By employing CHOOSE along with VLOOKUP, you can fetch a value based on specific criteria, such as condition or position.
Let’s illustrate this with an example. Assume you have a table with product names and their corresponding prices. You want to retrieve the price of a specific product by accessing its index position rather than the product name. In this case, the formula would be:
=VLOOKUP(CHOOSE(2,A2:A6,B2:B6), A2:B6, 2, FALSE)
In this formula, CHOOSE(2,A2:A6,B2:B6) will select the second value from A2:A6 (range of product names) and B2:B6 (range of prices), acting as the lookup value for VLOOKUP. FALSE as the last argument ensures an exact match.
Now, let’s dive into some related FAQs regarding VLOOKUP:
FAQs:
Q1: How can I use VLOOKUP with multiple criteria?
A1: To use VLOOKUP with multiple criteria, you can concatenate the criteria values into a single cell and perform a lookup based on that cell.
Q2: Can I use VLOOKUP to search for values vertically and horizontally?
A2: Yes, VLOOKUP can be used to search for values both vertically and horizontally. For horizontal lookup, you need to use the HLOOKUP function.
Q3: Is it possible to perform VLOOKUP between different sheets?
A3: Yes, VLOOKUP can be used between different sheets by referencing the sheet name along with the range in the formula.
Q4: How can I handle errors in VLOOKUP?
A4: You can handle errors in VLOOKUP by using the IFERROR function, which allows you to replace error values with a custom message or alternative result.
Q5: Can VLOOKUP work with text values?
A5: Yes, VLOOKUP can work with both numeric and text values. However, make sure that the data types in the lookup column and the lookup value match.
Q6: How does VLOOKUP handle duplicate values in the lookup column?
A6: VLOOKUP only returns the first match it encounters in case of duplicate values in the lookup column.
Q7: What happens if the lookup value is not found in VLOOKUP?
A7: If the lookup value is not found in VLOOKUP, it will return an error value, typically #N/A. You can handle this using the IFERROR function, as mentioned earlier.
Q8: Does VLOOKUP consider case sensitivity while searching?
A8: No, by default, VLOOKUP does not consider case sensitivity while searching. To perform a case-sensitive lookup, you need to use the EXACT function in combination with VLOOKUP.
Q9: Can I use wildcard characters in VLOOKUP?
A9: No, VLOOKUP does not support wildcard characters like *, ? in the lookup value. In such cases, you might need to use other functions like INDEX and MATCH or TEXTJOIN.
Q10: Can I use VLOOKUP to fetch values from multiple columns?
A10: Yes, you can use VLOOKUP to fetch values from multiple columns by adjusting the column index number accordingly.
Q11: Is there an alternative to VLOOKUP?
A11: Yes, there are alternatives to VLOOKUP, such as INDEX and MATCH functions, which provide more flexibility and advanced lookup capabilities.
Q12: Can I use VLOOKUP with non-contiguous ranges?
A12: No, VLOOKUP cannot be used with non-contiguous or disjointed ranges. The lookup range must be a single, contiguous area of cells.
With the knowledge gained from this article and the answers to these FAQs, you can confidently use VLOOKUP in Excel to fetch specific values and handle various lookup scenarios. Remember to explore alternative functions as well, depending on the complexity of your data and requirements.