V Look up 101

[Cadette]

Hi, I'm a newbie in terms of the exploration of the Excel Functions and would like to seek your help on how does the V-Look up function actually works. I keep hearing it from my colleagues but was not able to understand how it works.

Can you give me an insight?

I am planning to use it in one of my office projects (that is still in my drawing board though).

Thanks in advance..

 

[AhoyNC]

See attached link.

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[DavidCoop]

This link should help:

http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html

Chandoo is also quite good:

FREE Excel VLOOKUP Formula Cheat-sheet - Download Today | Chandoo.org - Learn Microsoft Excel Online

 

[Cadette]

Thanks Guys. I still have a long way to go in learning the ropes in excel. hope you can guide me in learning one function at a time.

Looking forward to your insights. thanks a gain.

 

[Cadette]

Hi Guys and Gals,

i was able to understand how the basic vlookup works. i really appreciate it. i have a question though, what if, the column i am to look at have the same entity, say a last name, then i would like to have the vlookup look at the next column, say first name. how will i incorporate this condition in the formula?

looking forward to your insights,

thanks.

 

[helpexce]

Unfortunately Vlookup can't go left. In that can you can go for INDEX & MATCH. Different formula in combination works great.

Br.

 

[AhoyNC]

See attached link for INDEX & MATCH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMWv0AN-hSs

 

[shyy]

Yes and no, VLOOKUP by itself can't but you can combine a CHOOSE to make it lookup backwards. Something like =VLOOKUP(D6,CHOOSE({1,2},$B$1:$B$2,$A$1:$A$2),2,FALSE)

Unfortunately Vlookup can't go left. In that can you can go for INDEX & MATCH. Different formula in combination works great.

Br.

 

[Cadette]

i think i just got lost in your words, shyy.. Can you elaborate more?

 

[shyy]

Since I am back at work.

Excel 2010
	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Occurance	Location			Location	Occurance
2	1	Miami			Tampa	2
3	2	Tampa
4	3	Ft Lauderdale
Sheet3

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
F2	=VLOOKUP(E2,CHOOSE({1,2},$B$2:$B$4,$A$2:$A$4),2,FALSE)