#use vlookup in excel

[gilfrespecter]

THEYRE FINALLY GIVING ME SPREADSHEETS AT WORK

[theblackdandelion]

I am once again asking for your help finding a Daredevil fic.

I only remember a little bit of it and I'm not able to find it on ao3, where I read it before.

Foggy got kidnapped, and he had to tell something to the kidnappers otherwise they'd hurt him, so he said that Daredevil uses language that he could only learn if he went to collage/university or of he was in prison. Matt heard him because he was getting closer and while fighting the bad guys he said he didn't go to college.

It might be mattfoggy, might be not, unfortunately I don't remember that.

[ohbutwheresyourheart]

Monday work gripe of the week: my reasonably intelligent coworker who is the same age as me could not successfully copy/paste data from one excel sheet to another

[mitcenter]

Excel VLOOKUP Function: How to Use It Like a Pro

Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis and management, and one of its most useful functions is VLOOKUP. If you're looking to streamline your data retrieval processes, mastering VLOOKUP is essential. This blog will guide you through the function, how to use VLOOKUP Function in excel, its syntax, practical examples, and tips for using it like a pro.

What is VLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP stands for "Vertical Lookup." It's a function that allows you to search for a specific value in the first column of a range (or table) and return a value in the same row from a specified column. This function is particularly useful for merging data from different sources or tables.

The Syntax of VLOOKUP

The syntax of the VLOOKUP function is straightforward:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

lookup_value: The value you want to search for. This can be a cell reference or a static value.

table_array: The range of cells that contains the data. It should include the column with the lookup value and the column from which you want to retrieve data.

col_index_num: The column number in the table_array from which to retrieve the data. The first column is 1, the second is 2, and so on.

[range_lookup]: This argument is optional. Use TRUE for an approximate match and FALSE for an exact match. Typically, you will want to use FALSE to avoid unexpected results.

How to Use VLOOKUP: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Before using VLOOKUP, ensure your data is organized. The lookup value should be in the first column of the table array, and the column from which you want to retrieve data should be to the right of it.

Step 2: Enter the VLOOKUP Formula

Click on the cell where you want the result to appear. 

Type the VLOOKUP formula. For example, if you want to look up the price of an item in column A based on its name in column B, your formula might look like this:

=VLOOKUP(B2, A1:C10, 3, FALSE)

Here, B2 is the item name you're looking for, A1 is the range of your data, 3 indicates that you want the result from the third column, and FALSE specifies that you want an exact match.

Step 3: Press Enter

After entering the formula, press Enter. If the lookup value exists in the first column of the specified range, Excel will return the corresponding value from the specified column.

Step 4: Drag the Formula (if needed)

If you need to apply the same lookup to multiple rows, you can drag the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) down to copy the formula to adjacent cells.

Practical Examples of VLOOKUP

Example 1: Simple Lookup

Imagine you have a list of products with their corresponding prices:

1) Product = Apple, Price = ₹240 ($2.87) 2) Product = Bananas, Price = ₹100 ($1.20) 3) Product = Oranges, Price = ₹80 ($0.96)

If you want to find the price of Bananas, you would use:

=VLOOKUP("Bananas", A1:B4, 2, FALSE)

This formula returns ₹100 ($1.20).

Example 2: Using Cell References

If your lookup value is in another cell (e.g., D1), you can use:

=VLOOKUP(D1, A1:B4, 2, FALSE)

Example 3: Handling Errors

Sometimes, the lookup value may not exist in the data. To handle potential errors, you can wrap your VLOOKUP in the IFERROR function:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(D1, A1:B4, 2, FALSE), "Not Found")

This formula will display "Not Found" if the lookup value is not present.

Tips for Using VLOOKUP Like a Pro

Keep Your Data Clean: Ensure there are no extra spaces or different formats in your lookup column.

Use Named Ranges: For easier reference, consider naming your table array. This makes your formulas cleaner and easier to manage.

Explore Alternatives: If you're dealing with more complex data, consider using INDEX and MATCH functions together, which can provide more flexibility than VLOOKUP.

Conclusion

The VLOOKUP function is a powerful ally in data management and analysis. By understanding its syntax and application, you can retrieve data efficiently and effectively. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, mastering VLOOKUP will elevate your Excel capabilities and help you work smarter, not harder.

[dreadwedge]

Bet you didn’t think a cute little baby goat like me, resting beneath a black walnut tree to escape the summer sun, would be proficient in Microsoft Excel, did you. Bet you didn’t expect me to know how to optimize a spreadsheet by implementing conditional formatting rules huh. Bet you took one look at me and thought “no way this kid knows how to use the VLOOKUP function.” Well guess what, I do. I know a diverse array of useful formulas and my body is capable of digesting poison ivy. I eat that shit like potato chips. Get the fuck out of my paddock

[marseny]

I typically don't go farther than making a list of root words but how I do that is by determining the alphabet/sounds, common syllable structure, then slapping those two things into a root generator that I programmed

Conlangers: how do you come up with vocabulary?

I love poking and prodding at grammar and names and cultural concepts… but what are your strategies for actually coming up with vocabulary words to fill out your languages? What core vocab do you need? Do you lovingly come up with sound combinations for Every Word or do you use generators like Vulgarlang? Do you think about irregular forms? Do you think about what words evolved from what and how, and of so, what terms do you put effort into developing etymologies for that way?

Actually coming up with vocab is the most opaque part of conlanging for me!

[intosnarkness]

i made a google sheet a work that took rsvps from our instructors who are agreeing to teach this year out of the system where they RSVPed

then it calculates a unique ID for them based on name and local union

then there are sheets broken out by course number (because each first number has a different person coordinating those instructors) and filled with the info we used to contact them. these generate the same unique ID from their name and local union

then i used if(iserror(vlookup script to pull over their rsvp, the email they entered, and any questions or concerns they had

and then i used conditional formatting to highlight anyone whose entered email didn't match the one we sent their invite to so we can update it in our system

and my boss took one look at this and said "you know no one else in our department can do anything even approaching this?"

so i texted my dad to thank him for teaching me how to do vlookups.

sincerely, if you are starting out in your career, learn how to make excel do a tiny bit of magic and you will go so so very far.

learn how to do vlookup, xlookup, if, iserror, countif, and sum and you'll be most of the way there. conditional formatting is annoying, but useful. pivot tables, if used correctly, might get you referred to the spanish inquisition. and VBA scripts! you can do so much stuff automatically with VBA. I use it every year to break our course evaluation master into individual sheets based on course and instructor. takes me 20 minutes instead of 3 weeks it would take doing it by hand.

you can get a lot of pre-written VBA code online as well, so as long as you know how to activate the developer console, you'll be fine. it's nowhere near as scary as you think it's gonna be.

learn excel. learn spreadsheets. you'll thank me for it.

[curiositypolling]

pls reblog for sample size etc

follow for more occasional useless polls :)

[prokopetz]

I would super like to know more about your job, because I'be been slowly upskilling/portfolio building to make myself viable for my own dream career, and almost every time I learn something new I see a post on your Tumblr about it.

My day job is one of those ill-defined roles encompassing app development, server and database administration, UI design, technical writing, general consulting, and teaching people how to use the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel. The job title on my business cards just says "wizard", which literally no-one has ever questioned.

[yzzydawolf]

me when I have to use VLOOKUP and INDEX MATCH on Excel

I have a love hate relationship with Excel right now! (Internship problems)

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Anyway now that everyone's confused, have a chapter 49 snippet

Remus Lupin: Peter's asking me why he hasn't been added back to the group chat yet.

Sirius Black added Peter Pettigrew

Sirius Black: Stop fucking leaving then

Peter Pettigrew: You were supposed to add me back right after I left!

James Potter: but every time you leave the chat it becomes harder to forgive harder to forget harder to reconcile especially when i later come to you for help and you cruelly rebuff me

Remus Lupin: What are you on about?

Peter Pettigrew: James asked me to teach him the full functionality of Excel yesterday and I said no.

Remus Lupin: Why did you need to know the full functionality of Excel?

Peter Pettigrew: Some Lily related reason, probably.

James Potter: first of all peter if you're going to keep exiting the group chat in a huff you may as well vlookup new friends we four are meant to be a merged cell and i've had it with you exporting yourself elsewhere then deciding to pivot table your way back in

Peter Pettigrew: ......WHAT?

James Potter: see? i can learn excel all by myself

Remus Lupin: You've clearly just Googled a glossary of Excel terms.

James Potter: a full understanding of the terminology is a vital step towards excel proficiency my friend

Sirius Black: I'd love to take the piss too but he is actually using Excel for a serious reason

James Potter: that's right and now that i know how to wrap text and expand column widths it's over for you people

[mariacallous]

Just finished the phone screen.

Described my experience, both professionally in general but also specifically with excel (mentioned pivot tables, vlookup, index-matching, csv files, and data filtering more than once) because the HR person said they were definitely looking for someone comfortable with excel and using it to discuss and explain things to other team members.

I also said that while I would need to give two weeks notice, I was looking to start asap.

Salary for the position is about what I was hoping to get.

The HR person said they would send their notes from the call plus my resume and cover letter on to the hiring manager and if they're interested from there I'd hear from them directly.

I think it went well.

[valiantarcher]

Tagged by @citadelofthestars - thank you!

Last song: Something off of ThistleRadio earlier.

Last book: I'm saying The Club of Queer Trades by G.K. Chesterton because I have 17 pages left and should finish it tonight.

Last movie: I think this would've been By the Light of the Silvery Moon.

Last TV show: I think an episode of Nailed It!, if that counts.

Sweet/Spicy/Savoury: Sweet is still probably top, but I get sweetened out much more easily now than I used to, so savoury is also up there.

Relationship status: Hasn't changed since the last time I did one of these (when I think I had a clever answer but I don't remember what it was now).

Last thing I web searched: I don't remember the exact search term but I was trying to remember what Excel function would let me do a search on one list and return a corresponding value from another (it was VLOOKUP, if anyone is wondering).

Current obsession: I wouldn't call it an obsession, but I'm still poking around the opera topic some and have been listening to the classical music radio station regularly.

Looking forward to: Things being less busy at work and in general. Also, book sales upcoming.

Leaving an open tag for anyone who'd like to do this. :)

[patrice-bergerons]

hi Alex!! i hope you don't mind, but if i have an excel question 👉👈 basically i have a long long list of items, each with its price. i want to make smaller lists of different combinations of items, and have it auto-populate a column with the prices for each list. if i have the full list of each item with its price, is there a way to get my smaller lists to auto-populate with the price from this?? hope this makes sense and sorry for the random ask ��😭

Please it makes my day every time I get an excel question 🥰🥰🥰

It sounds like what you need is the =VLOOKUP() function which can "look up" prices from the long list to populate the shorter list. Here is a mock up:

I have a fake long list in cells A1 thru A5 and a fake short list in A9:10. To find the price for mangoes I entered the vlookup formula into cell B9. It takes 4 values (separated by commas in the above- if you are using excel in a different language the separator might be something else)

What do you need to be looked up? Here the answer is a mango, which is entered into cell A9, so I said A9. The $ in front of the A tells Excel to fix the column reference. In other words even if you copy the same formula to cell C9, it would still reference column A, not B (which is what it would have done sans fixing)

Where do you want this to be looked up? The answer is the long list so I gave the full range for it. The $A$1 notation fixes the entire range, so regardless of what column or row you copy your formula into it will keep referencing the same range.

Which column's values do you want me to return? Here price is in the second column of the referenced array so we say 2. If your second column contained e.g. colour and prices were in the 3rd, we would have made our reference range $A$1:$C$6 above and said 3 here.

Do you want me to look things up based on the vibes? 😎 NEVER trust excel to vibe so we say false, i.e. give me an exact match. Idk what's up with the mobile app but in my computer I don't enter the () after false.

You can then hit copy with the cell selected and paste the formula into the rest of your small list and voila, prices!

Vlookup can look up values across different tabs and it can be made more dynamic than the simple example I have above. There are also other more complicated formulas that are even more dynamic. Conversely all this formula business can be quite confusing when you are new to it. My DMs are fully open if you have questions, follow-ups, or the above does not work for you!

For further reference here is the formula for grape:

On my computer, when I had just written the formula in B9 and hit enter, I would have selected B9 and B10 and then hit Ctrl + D which would drag the formula down to B10. As an alternative to copying cell B9 and pasting it onto B10.

[kyndaris]

Fake It Til You Make It

It's with a heavy heart that I admit, once again, I have yet to finish off Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth at time of writing up this post. While I'm certain the ending is not far off, there's a plethora of side activities demanding my attention including the likes of Queen's Blood and secondary quests. Oh, and competing in the Musclehead Coliseum at the Gold Saucer. But I'm certain my next post will most assuredly be all about our Gaslight, Gatekeep and Girlboss queen: Sephiroth!

Honestly, if the world of Gaia actually had an Employee Assistance Program and a slew of therapists at their beck and call, I'm a hundred percent certain Sephiroth would not be able to so easily manipulate main protagonist Cloud Strife into doing his bidding.

Of course, that's a blog for another day!

Speaking of therapy, though, I'm certain I'd be perfect picture of a client who is intellectualises many of my problems and is quite self-aware of the glaring issues I need to address. Unfortunately, knowing what I need to do is a lot easier than actually putting in the effort. Take, for example, the very real impostor syndrome I felt when I'd been offered a chance to act up at my work place.

The anxiety bubbling in my stomach, the spiralling thoughts...

This was, despite the fact, I'd grown bored with my role and was actively looking for something a little bit more challenging. I think a part of it was because the supervisor for the new team, when he called me, had glanced through my resume and had pinpointed several aspects he thought beneficial to the role I'd be taking up. Namely, Microsoft Excel.

Of course, I'd tried to dissuade him of his assumptions. After all, for most of my working life, Excel has simply been a means of inputting data. There is no sorting, no freeze rowing or actually pivot tabling of the information at hand. That is reserved for another member of our team. One who eat, sleeps and breathes spreadsheets.

I just know how to do basic functions. Like filtering or creating new columns.

Using something like vlookup, though? No. No way. Not in my wheelhouse. Heck, any formula besides sum and a few other simple functions are way out of my scope. I wouldn't know the first thing about them. At all.

And yet, here I was, being trusted to assist with an important report and finally use my brain to critically analyse the information that would go in it, noting any important trends that may have cropped up. Wasn't this something I'd wanted to do since I'd got my degree in Social Science? Yes, the quantitative data before me wasn't entirely related to criminology, but it was a start.

I think part of it comes from being a gifted child when I was younger. One who attended school with other gifted children. Growing up was not easy when everyone else was just as intelligent, if not more so, than you. Coupled with my mother's expectations to be more perfect, is it any wonder I came away from it saddled with crippling self-doubt and low self-esteem?

While failure is a great fear I've harboured for many a long while, it seems passingly strange that it doesn't always carry over into everything I do. Take video games, for example. In many a game, especially platformers, I've often had to retry levels multiple times to get past it. Each time, of course, learning what I did wrong and how I might improve. Yes, sometimes I'd be convinced it was the game's fault and not mine, but I'd persist.

And if persistence didn't pay off after a significant period, I knew I could always lower the difficulty.

Failing in real life, however, is a different ordeal. Or so it feels.

While I know each failure I commit won't lead to the heat-death of the universe, and that it's a learning experience, I find it hard to accept I may not always be good at something from the onset. After all, theoretical principles, once explained, are understandable to an extent. And if I'm following an instructor, doing as he does during special targeted training with minimal requests for help, it must mean I innately know the content. Right?

Well, no. Because training in a closed and guided environment doesn't always translate to the exterior world. Take for example, driving a car. Let it be known, dear reader, I failed my driving test twice before finally passing my third go.

It was this very reason that I found problematic when it came to my degree at university. Sure, we used the programs available for the students, but there was a distinct lack of focus for the wider applications for the knowledge I was attaining. There was no course for extrapolating information from an Excel database. Qualitative data was nigh impossible to assess for the end-of-term project unless the responses were individually sifted through. And none of what I was doing seemed to reflect the kind of work I'd face in a professional setting.

Quite frankly, it was a bit of a mess.

Fast forward to the current day and I'm all but drowning my fear that I'll mess up and make a fool of myself. Even as I know I'm a quick learner and could pick up the skills after a few tries.

But in the back of my mind, the doubt remains. The harsh inner critic telling me I'll never be enough. That the people around me will judge me for not immediately knowing what needs to be done and how. Even though I know they'd only have picked me out of the gods-know-how-many other candidates who had also thrown their hat into the ring (maybe it was one. Maybe it was two. Or perhaps it was a neat hundred. One can only dream, right? Like winning the lotto?)

And maybe it's also the reason why I struggle with finding love. Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason why I can't seem to connect with anyone is actually a form of self-sabotage. My own self-hatred getting in the way of me creating a lasting connection with the strangers I meet. Then again...it could be just that many of the people I've met haven't really wowed me or met my stringent standards.

What I do know is that the person I have a crush on?

I'm scared they might reject me if I were to find a quiet time to tell them of my feelings. Yes, my friend (who is their cousin) has told me that there might be a sort of reciprocity (or, at least, they seem to attend events if they know I might be there), it's still a little hard for me to know with absolute certainty it'll end merrily.

Still, I suppose that's the risk of life.

There is no certainty. No control over the will of others.

The act of being vulnerable sets one up to being hurt.

To failing.

To being unmasked as the impostor one is.

But it's only by embracing that very thing, and putting oneself out of their comfort zone, that we can grow. I don't know what the future will bring but I have told myself that after my mother comes back from overseas and I'm no longer stressed about caring for my elderly grandmother, I should, at least, try for the possibility of happiness. Whether that be a new career path or even finding myself a possible life partner.

For now, I'll have to settle for proving to myself how much of an asset I can be to my new team. And if I struggle a little bit, that's good. Because it means I've finally come up against a challenge. Something I've been looking for since my previous role has led to a lot of stagnation in what I actually want to achieve (not that I have a lot of ambitions when it came to the work place - please, can a publisher just reach out and offer me a contract to write books? I swear I can write something people of all ages would enjoy!).

So here's to pretending I know exactly how Microsoft Excel works and looking at endless spreadsheets for the next six months! Huzzah!