Excel 2007 VLOOKUP Function

More information on the Excel VLOOKUP function.

Excel's VLOOKUP function, which stands for vertical lookup, is used to find specific information that has been stored in a spreadsheet table.

Note: The data in the table should be sorted in ascending order (alphabetically A to Z).

The syntax for the VLOOKUP function is:

= VLOOKUP ( lookup_value , table_array , col_index_num , range_lookup )

lookup _value: The value you want to find in the first column of the table_array .

table_array: The range of data that VLOOKUP searches to find your information. The table_array must contain at least two columns of data. The first column contains the lookup_values.

col_index_num: The number of the column in the table_array that contains the data you want returned.

range_lookup: A logical value (TRUE or FALSE only) that indicates whether you want VLOOKUP to find an exact or an approximate match to the lookup_value. Typing False will return exact matches only.

Example Using Excel's VLOOKUP Function:

Note: For help with this example, see the image to the right.

1. Enter the following data into the cells indicated:
   

   Cell Data
   
   D3 - Part
   D4 - Bearing
   D5 - Bolt
   D6 - Cog
   D7 - Gear
   D8 - Washer
   

   E3 - Price
   E4 - $17.34
   E5 - $1.54
   E6 - $20.21
   E7 - $23.56
   E8 - $1.43
   

2. Click on cell E1 - the location where the results will be displayed.
   
   
3. Click on the Formulas tab.
   
   
4. Choose Lookup & Reference from the ribbon to open the function drop down list.
   
   
5. Click on VLOOKUP in the list to bring up the function's dialog box.
   
   
6. In the dialog box, click on the Lookup _value line.
   
   
7. Click on cell D1 in the spreadsheet. This is where we will type the name of the part we wish to price.
   
   
8. In the dialog box, click on the Table_array line.
   
   
9. Drag select cells D4 to E8 in the spreadsheet to enter the range into the dialog box. This is the range of data we want VLOOKUP to search.
   
   
10. In the dialog box, click on the Col_index_num line.
    
    
11. Type the number 2 to indicate that the data we want returned is in column 2 of the table_array.
    
    
12. In the dialog box, click on the Range_lookup line.
    
    
13. Type the word False to indicate that we want an exact match for our requested data.
    
    
14. Click OK.
    
    
15. In cell D1 of the spreadsheet, type the word bolt.
    
    
16. The value $1.54 should appear in cell E1 displaying the price of a bolt as indicated in the table_array.
    
    
17. If you click on cell E1, the complete function = VLOOKUP ( D1 , D4:E8 , 2 , FALSE ) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.

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