VLOOKUP Function (Functions in Excel)

					The column numbers are not needed.
					they are part of the illustration.
col 1	col 2	col 3	col 4	col 5	col 6
Jan	10	20	30	40	50
Feb	80	90	100	110	120
Mar	97	69	45	51	77
			Type a month to look for :	Feb
			Which column needs to be picked out :	4
			The result is :	100
				=VLOOKUP(G11,C6:H8,G12,FALSE)

What Does It Do ?

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.

Syntax

=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.

Formatting

No special formatting is needed.

Example 1

This table is used to find a value based on a specified name and month.

The =VLOOKUP() is used to scan down to find the name.

The problem arises when we need to scan across to find the month column.

To solve the problem the =MATCH() function is used.

The =MATCH() looks through the list of names to find the month we require. It then calculates

the position of the month in the list. Unfortunately, because the list of months is not as wide

as the lookup range, the =MATCH() number is 1 less than we require, so and extra 1 is

added to compensate.

The =VLOOKUP() now uses this =MATCH() number to look across the columns and

picks out the correct cell entry.

The =VLOOKUP() uses FALSE at the end of the function to indicate to Excel that the

row headings are not sorted.

	Jan	Feb	Mar
Bob	10	80	97
Eric	20	90	69
Alan	30	100	45
Carol	40	110	51
David	50	120	77
		Type a name to look for :	eric
		Type a month to look for :	mar
		The result is :	69
			=VLOOKUP(F56,C50:F54,MATCH(F57,D49:F49,0)+1,FALSE)

Example 2

This example shows how the =VLOOKUP() is used to pick the cost of a spare part for

different makes of cars.

The =VLOOKUP() scans down row headings in column F for the spare part entered in column C.

When the make is found, the =VLOOKUP() then scans across to find the price, using the

result of the =MATCH() function to find the position of the make of car.

The functions use the absolute ranges indicated by the dollar symbol . This ensures that

when the formula is copied to more cells, the ranges for =VLOOKUP() and =MATCH() do

not change.

Maker	Spare	Cost		Lookup Table
Vauxhall	Ignition	£50			Vauxhall	Ford	VW
VW	GearBox	£600		GearBox	500	450	600
Ford	Engine	£1,200		Engine	1000	1200	800
VW	Steering	£275		Steering	250	350	275
Ford	Ignition	£70		Ignition	50	70	45
Ford	CYHead	£290		CYHead	300	290	310
Vauxhall	GearBox	£500
Ford	Engine	£1,200
		=VLOOKUP(C81,F75:I79,MATCH(B81,G74:I74,0)+1,FALSE)

Example 3

In the following example a builders merchant is offering discount on large orders.

The Unit Cost Table holds the cost of 1 unit of Brick, Wood and Glass.

The Discount Table holds the various discounts for different quantities of each product.

The Orders Table is used to enter the orders and calculate the Total.

All the calculations take place in the Orders Table.

The name of the Item is typed in column C of the Orders Table.

The Unit Cost of the item is then looked up in the Unit Cost Table.

The FALSE option has been used at the end of the function to indicate that the product

names down the side of the Unit Cost Table are not sorted.

Using the FALSE option forces the function to search for an exact match. If a match is

not found, the function will produce an error.

=VLOOKUP(C126,C114:D116,2,FALSE)

The discount is then looked up in the Discount Table

If the Quantity Ordered matches a value at the side of the Discount Table the =VLOOKUP will

look across to find the correct discount.

The TRUE option has been used at the end of the function to indicate that the values

down the side of the Discount Table are sorted.

Using TRUE will allow the function to make an approximate match. If  the Quantity Ordered does

not match a value at the side of the Discount Table, the next lowest value is used.

Trying to match an order of 125 will drop down to 100, and the discount from

the 100 row is used.

=VLOOKUP(D126,F114:I116,MATCH(C126,G113:I113,0)+1,TRUE)

				Discount Table
Unit Cost Table				Brick	Wood	Glass
Brick	£2		1	0%	0%	0%
Wood	£1		100	6%	3%	12%
Glass	£3		300	8%	5%	15%
Orders Table
Item	Units	Unit Cost	Discount	Total
Brick	100	£2	6%	£188
Wood	200	£1	3%	£194
Glass	150	£3	12%	£396
Brick	225	£2	6%	£423
Wood	50	£1	0%	£50
Glass	500	£3	15%	£1,275

Formula for :
Unit Cost	=VLOOKUP(C126,C114:D116,2,FALSE)
Discount	=VLOOKUP(D126,F114:I116,MATCH(C126,G113:I113,0)+1,TRUE)
Total	=(D126*E126)-(D126*E126*F126)

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