Lookup Multiple Values

[tgick]

I have a spreadsheet that contains a list of equipment. To simplify, we'll say column A contains the manufacturer, column B contains the model number, and column C contains a description of the equipment. Not all model numbers are unique, however - there may be identical model numbers for several different manufacturers. I use this equipment list as a database for my project-specific equipment list - I enter the Manufacturer and Model, and descriptions, costs, etc. are entered into subsequent cells through a VLOOKUP formula.

I have problems with this method, however, because of the duplicate model numbers - can I somehow create a lookup that looks up the manufacturer first, then looks through the manufacturer's equipment to find the model?

Also, I have several custom part numbers that contain unique descriptions (I.E. Manufacturer = "Custom" and Model = "Custom" Description = "Custom Suspension Basket") - any idea on how I can make use of a VLOOKUP for these parts?

Thanks!

 

[Sanjeev1976]

You can use a formula in the vlookup to combine both the columns i.e. to look for a combination instead of a single column and it should work fine.

If you can give me more details, I may be able to help you out with this.


Sanjeev

 

[tgick]

How would I set up this type of "compound VLOOKUP"? I assumed this would be the solution, but I don't know how to set this up.

Thanks again.

 

[Sanjeev1976]

If you have your supplier name in column "B" and your product code in column "C" then you may give this sort of combined formula to look for both of them together : VLOOKUP( B2 & " " & C2,E2:E11,1,FALSE)

You can also make use of a dummy column, if you want.

Sanjeev

 

[Krishnakumar]

Hi,

=INDEX(Model_Range,MATCH(1,IF(Manufacture_Range="Manufacture",IF(Equipment_Range="Equipment",1)),0))

Confirmed with CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER

Note: You could replace Manufacture with a cell reference.

HTH