How to use VLOOKUP Formula in Excel 2003 , 2007

Hello Readers,

I have added one post about for a formula which really helped me a lot in my MIS work.

The most useful formula in excel is VLOOKUP for MIS guys. .

many guys find difficulty to learn this formula.So Lets go step by step I will show you some easy examples.

Before learning the formula we should know that what is the use of the formula.

This formula is very useful when you have to find out value from a list, say there are two lists One with 2 columns Student_Name & Marks And another table Student_Name & Age As shown in the Image.

So with the help of VLOOKUP formula we can find out Marks in column G for Students Given in Colomn E

As shown in below image

We can see the entered formula in cell G4 "=VLOOKUP(E4,B3:C13,2,0)"

The formula has divided into the 4 parts.

= Vlookup(Lookup _value, Table Array,Column_number,Range_Criteria)

1. Lookup Vaue which is E4 (means which value we are going to find in List 1 )

2.Table array B3:C13 (You have to select total List1 )

3.Column number (Which coumns you want as output, as you can see there are 2 columns in List 1)

4.Rage ( It should be "0" or "FALSE", We will disscuss on same later on )

So now you have understood what we have to entered into each part of the Formula.

Let understand what actually the formula does .

1. Lookup Vaue which is E4 (means which value we are going to find in List 1 )

Formula first take Lookup Value and find lookup value in first column of Table Array

Means it actually finds "Student_1" in Column "B3:B13"

It get value "Student_1" in cell B4

after that it checks Column number (which we have given 2 in the formula).

And as B4 is column 1 of table array so 2 would be D4 and D4 is marks of Student_1

In such way it find out marks of Given Lookup Value

Questions!!!!

What happens when Formula doesn't find Lookup value in first column of table array ??

this is nice question, The formula simply gives Error of Not Found like this => "#N/A"

If you want to test you just change Lookup value means E4 to "Student_11" as Student_11 is not in the List1 it will show #N/A error

But its just a one result what for other marks for List2 ???

Now as you have created the formula you need not write it again in every cell Just copy cell G4 and Paste into Where you want to apply the formula That is G5:G13.

Isn't it easy ????
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