VLOOKU

P
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
Feb
Mar

10
80
97

20
90
69

30
100
45

40
110
51

50
120
77

Type a month to look for :

Which column needs to be picked out :

Feb
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.
Synt
ax
=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.

Bob
Eric
Alan
Carol
Davi
d

Jan
10
20
30
40

Feb
80
90
100
110

Mar
97
69
45
51

50

120

77

Type a
name to
look
for :
Type a
month
to look
for :
The
result
is :

eric

mar

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.
Mak
er
Vaux
hall
VW
Ford
VW
Ford
Ford

Spar
e
Igniti
on
Gear
Box
Engi
ne
Steer
ing
Igniti
on
CYH
ead

Cos
t
50
60
0
1,
200
27
5
70
29
0

Lookup Table
Vauxh
all

For
d

GearBox

500

600

Engine

1000

450
120
0

Steering

250

350

275

Ignition

50

70

45

CYHead

300

290

310

VW

800

Vaux
hall
Ford

Gear
Box
Engi
ne

50
0
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
Wo
Gla
Brick od
ss

Unit Cost
Table
Bric
k
2
Woo
d
1
Glas
s
3

0%

0%

100

6%

3%

300

8%

5%

Orders Table
Item
Brick
Woo

Unit
s
100
200

Unit
Cost
2
1

Discount
6%
3%

Total
188
194

0%
12
%
15
%

d
Glas
s
Brick
Woo
d
Glas
s

150
225

3
2

12%
6%

396
423

50

0%

500

15%

50
1,27
5

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