Mastering VLOOKUP In Excel: The Definitive Guide

Are you looking to become a master at using VLOOKUP in Excel?
If so, you’re in the right place. With the right knowledge, you can make VLOOKUPs in Excel look easy – but without it, they’re confusing, tedious and time-consuming.

In this definitive guide, you’ll learn how to take advantage of VLOOKUP’s powerful features, from searching between two sheets, working with data ranges, troubleshooting errors, leveraging wildcards for approximate matches, combining multiple VLOOKUPs in a single formula, dealing with duplicate data entries, importing external data sources, creating pivot tables and charts using VLOOKUPs, and advanced VLOOKUP techniques.

We’ll teach you everything you need to know to become a pro at VLOOKUP in Excel. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

1. Installing and Opening Excel

Before learning to use VLOOKUP in Excel, you must install and open the program first. Excel is available from Microsoft Office Suite and can be installed on your computer, or you can access it online. Once you have the program installed, open it up to get started.

Excel is an incredibly powerful spreadsheet software program that can be used to store, analyze and visualize data. In addition to basic functions such as entering data and performing calculations, Excel also supports advanced features like VLOOKUP and conditional formatting. Knowing how to use these features can help you make more informed decisions and be more productive.

VLOOKUP is a function in Excel that can be used to look up data between two sheets. The VLOOKUP in Excel in Hindi and VLOOKUP in Excel Bangla are also available to support various languages. With VLOOKUP, you can quickly find information in one sheet and return the associated data from another sheet.

Now that you have Excel installed and opened, you’re ready to learn how to use VLOOKUP. Read on to find out more!

2. Understanding VLOOKUP Syntax

VLOOKUP is a powerful tool for quickly and easily looking up data in Excel. It stands for ‘vertical lookup’ and allows you to find and retrieve information from a range of cells or a table of data. It is a function used to search for a specific value in the first column of a table or range of cells and return a value from any other column in the same row. To understand how VLOOKUP works, it is important to understand its syntax, or construction.

The syntax for a basic VLOOKUP function is as follows: =VLOOKUP (value, table, column, [approximate_match]). Here, ‘value’ is the value that you are looking up, ‘table’ is the range of cells that contains the values to be searched, ‘column’ is the column number from which you want to retrieve the data and [approximate_match] is an optional parameter that allows for approximate matches. This parameter can take a value of TRUE (1), meaning that the value should be found approximately, or FALSE (0), meaning that the value should be found exactly.

For example, you may have a ‘Customers’ table with a list of customers and their associated information. To find the customer’s name given a customer ID using VLOOKUP, the syntax would be: =VLOOKUP (customer_ID, Customers, 2). This syntax would search the first column of the ‘Customers’ table for the value of ‘customer_ID’, and return the value from the second column of the same row.

The syntax of VLOOKUP can also be used to look up data between two sheets in Excel. This is useful when you need to search for information on one sheet and return a result from another. The syntax for this type of VLOOKUP is: =VLOOKUP (value, Sheet2!table, column, [approximate_match]). Here, ‘Sheet2’ represents the name of the second sheet and the other parameters remain the same.

3. Working with Data Ranges

Excel’s VLOOKUP formula is a powerful tool for analyzing and analyzing data from multiple data sets within a spreadsheet. By understanding the basics of VLOOKUP and how it works, you can quickly and easily analyze and manipulate data from multiple worksheets and quickly answer questions about data. In this section, we will delve into the details of how to use a VLOOKUP formula between two sheets and explain how to use VLOOKUP in Hindi and Bangla.

When you need to use a VLOOKUP formula between two sheets, you’ll want to identify two cells. One of these cells will be the lookup_value and the other will be the table_array. The lookup_value will be the value you are searching for, and the table_array will be the range of cells that contains the data you want to search. The formula will search through the range of cells and return the value in the column you specify.

For example, if you wanted to search for a customer’s phone number in a database on Sheet 1, you could use the following formula to search through the database:

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

The lookup_value will be the customer’s name, the table_array will be the range of cells containing the database, and the col_index_num will be the column in the database containing the customer’s phone number. The [range_lookup] argument is optional, but it will allow you to specify whether the formula should return an exact match or an approximate match.

Now let’s say you want to use the same VLOOKUP formula but in Hindi or Bangla. In this case, the formula would be slightly different, as you would need to specify the language code in the formula. For Hindi, the formula would look like this:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup], ‘hi’)

For Bangla, the formula would look like this:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup], ‘bn’)

By understanding how to use a VLOOKUP formula between two sheets and specifying the language code, you can quickly and easily analyze and manipulate data from multiple worksheets in Hindi and Bangla.

4. Troubleshooting Errors

When it comes to using VLOOKUP in Excel, there are a few potential errors you may encounter. The most common errors are #NA, #REF, #NAME?, and #VALUE!, which can be difficult to diagnose due to the complexity of Excel. Here are a few possible causes and solutions to help you troubleshoot errors that might come up.

If you receive an #NA error, the problem is likely that your lookup_value is not found in the first column of the range. You should double-check that the value is in the list, which can be done by scrolling through, sorting your data, or by using a Filter tool.

If you receive an #REF error, you are likely referencing to cells which are invalid. This can happen when you define a cell range that is outside of the worksheet’s column or row. To prevent this, you can use dynamic cell referencing, which will update the range as you add more information into the worksheet.

If you receive a #NAME? error, you might have accidentally misspelt the VLOOKUP function. In this case, you should double-check the spelling, capitalization, and syntax of the function. Also, make sure that the lookup_value, table_array and col_index_num arguments are formatted correctly.

Finally, if you receive a #VALUE! error, this usually indicates that the lookup_value argument and table_array argument are not in the same data type. To rectify this, make sure that both the lookup_value and the table_array are in the same format and type.

Troubleshooting errors with VLOOKUP in Excel can be tricky, but if you follow the steps outlined above, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and resolve it quickly. The same applies to VLOOKUP in Excel between two sheets, VLOOKUP in Excel inmultiple columns, and VLOOKUP in Excel in different sheets. Good luck!

5. Leveraging Wildcards for Approximate Matches

Wildcards are an incredibly powerful tool to use when setting up a VLOOKUP in Excel. They allow the user to make an approximate match to a lookup value, which can be incredibly useful when dealing with data that varies slightly from record to record, such as when working with two sheets in Excel. Wildcards are also useful when working with foreign languages, such as Hindi and Bengali.

Wildcards represent characters in an unknown or variable manner, and they come in two main types: question mark (?) and asterisk (*). A question mark will match any single character, while an asterisk will match any sequence of characters. For example, if you are looking up a value of “RAGHU-1” in Excel, you could use *-1 to match any value that ends with -1. You could also use ?-1 to match any three letter value that ends with -1.

When using wildcards in a VLOOKUP in Excel, you need to wrap the wildcard characters in quotation marks, so the function knows that you are looking for an approximate match and not an exact one. For example, if you are searching for the value “RAGHU-1”, you would use the following formula:

VLOOKUP(‘*-1’, Sheet1!A:B, 2, FALSE)

This formula will search for any value in Sheet1 that ends with “-1” and return the corresponding column value from the same row.

It is also possible to use wildcards as the lookup value in a VLOOKUP in Excel. For example, if you wanted to find the value “RAGHU-1” in a list of values and you only knew that it ended with “-1”, you could use the following formula:

VLOOKUP(‘RAGHU*’, Sheet1!A:B, 2, FALSE)

This formula willsearch for any value in Sheet1 that begins with “RAGHU” and return the corresponding column value from the same row.

6. Combining Multiple VLOOKUPs in a Single Formula

One of the most powerful features of Vlookup in Excel is the ability to combine multiple Vlookups into a single formula. This can be helpful if you need to pull data from two different sheets or tables in one formula.

To do this, we use the same basic syntax as a regular Vlookup, but we add a comma at the end of the first Vlookup before we start the second Vlookup. The syntax will look something like this:

VLOOKUP(reference cell, table 1 range, column index number, [range lookup]) , VLOOKUP (reference cell, table2 range, column index number, [range lookup])

Let’s look at an example to illustrate the concept.

Suppose we have two tables, Table 1 and Table 2, that contain the same data, but in different formats. We want to combine the two tables in a single formula to get the same results from both tables.

In this example, we are going to use Vlookup in Excel to combine both tables into a single formula. The syntax for our formula will look something like this:

VLOOKUP(A2,Table1,2,FALSE),VLOOKUP(A2,Table2,3,FALSE)

The first part of our formula looks up the value in cell A2 from Table1 and returns the value from the second column of that table. The second part of our formula looks up the value in cell A2 from Table2 and returns the value from the third column of that table.

The result of the formula will be the combined results of the two Vlookups. This is a great way to combine data from two tables in one formula.

For users who are not familiar with Vlookup in Excel, it is important to remember that Vlookup in Excel can also be used in Hindi and Bangla. The syntax of the formula remains the same, but the data needs to be entered in theappropriate language.

7. Dealing with Duplicate Data Entries

When dealing with duplicate data entries using VLOOKUP in Excel, the general rule is that only the first row will be returned. In the example used in Section 6, if there were two rows with the name “John” in the first sheet, it would be the first row that is matched and returned. To be safe, it is always a good idea to sort the data before attempting a VLOOKUP in order to ensure that the first row is the one that is desired.

When it comes to filtering out duplicate data entries between two sheets, there are several methods that can be used. One approach is to use the Remove Duplicates button, which can be found on the Data tab in the Ribbon. This is a simple and fast way to get rid of any rows with duplicate values.

Another approach is to use the INDEX-MATCH-IF formula. This formula can be used to look up a value and return a corresponding value, but with the additional specification that the value must be unique. This can be done by using the IF statement to test whether or not the value is duplicated.

It is also possible to use advanced VLOOKUP formulas with functions such as COUNTIF and IF. These formulas can be used to check whether the value of the key cell is the same on both sheets, and the formula can be modified to return the corresponding value from the respective cell from the same row on the target sheet.

Finally, if the data is in two different languages, such as VLOOKUP in Excel in Hindi and VLOOKUP in Excel Bangla, then one can use the UNICHAR function to convert all of the characters in the data to Unicode characters. This will make it easier to compare the data on both sheets and accurately find matches.

By taking the time to properly sort data, use the Remove Duplicates button, or use either the INDEX-MATCH-IF formula, multiple IF statements, or the UNICHAR function, it is possible to accurately filter out duplicate data entries in Excel.

8. Importing External Data Sources into VLOOKUPs

When it comes to VLOOKUPs in Excel, you can import external data from different sources — from other worksheets, databases, or other programs — to create more complex VLOOKUPs. This allows you to create powerful data-driven workbooks and make informed decisions.

When importing data from an external source, you can either import the entire data source or just the column you need for the VLOOKUP. For example, you could import an entire Excel worksheet or just one column of data. You can also import a database table or an online database.

When importing data, it’s important to keep in mind the type of data you have and the structure of the data. You need to ensure that the data is in the correct format for VLOOKUPs. Different data sources have different formats, so you need to be aware of how to convert the data as necessary. For example, you may need to format dates and numbers into a specific format for VLOOKUPs.

You can also use VLOOKUPs to compare data between two data sources. This is a useful feature if you want to check the accuracy of data sets or compare datasets from different sources. You can also use VLOOKUPs to compare data between different languages. For example, you can use VLOOKUPs to compare English data to Hindi or Bangla data.

Overall, importing data into VLOOKUPs is an incredibly useful feature that can be used to create powerful data comparisons and reports. It’s important to be aware of the different data sources available, the data types and structure of the data, and how to properly format the data for VLOOKUPs. With the right data, you can create powerful VLOOKUPs in Excel and make informed decisions.

9. Creating Pivot Tables and Charts Using VLOOKUPs

Pivot tables and charts allow you to quickly and easily analyze large amounts of data in Excel. VLOOKUPs can be used in this process, allowing you to create summary reports and attractive, interactive visuals. They are a powerful tool that can help you understand trends and identify areas of improvement.

Before you create your pivot table or chart, the data you’ll be working with needs to be organized in a specific way. All of the data should be in one Excel workbook and in multiple sheets. This allows you to use the vlookup in excel between two sheets feature to link the sheets together. By creating a link between the sheets, you can view and manipulate the data in different ways.

Once the data is organized, you can start creating the pivot table. In Excel, select the data you want to analyze and then click ‘insert’ and select pivot table. This will bring up the pivot table window, where you can drag and drop the fields you want to analyze.

For example, if you want to look at sales by region, you can drag the region field into the rows section and drag the sales field into values. This will give you a table of sales broken down by region. You can also add subtotals and grand totals for a more detailed analysis.

Once you have the pivot table set up, you can create a chart based on the table. Excel has many options for customizing the chart, including colors, labels, and sizes. You can also create interactive charts that let you explore the data by hovering over points on the graph.

The vlookup in excel feature can also be used to create charts in other languages, such as Hindi and Bangla. By entering the data in one language, you can export it to another language to create a chart. This is particularly useful if you’re presenting data to an audience with diverse language needs.

The combination of vlookup in excel between two sheets and creating pivot tables and charts is a great way to quicklyand easily analyze large amounts of data. With a few clicks, you can create powerful visuals that can help you better understand your data and identify areas of improvement.

10. Advanced VLOOKUP Techniques

VLOOKUP is a powerful function in Excel, and there are some advanced techniques you can use to take it to the next level. Here we will cover some of the most useful and complex VLOOKUP techniques, including vlookup between two sheets, vlookup in Excel in Hindi, and vlookup in Excel in Bangla.

First, let’s go over the basics of VLOOKUP and how we can use it across multiple sheets in Excel. The syntax for a VLOOKUP will remain the same regardless of whether you are searching across multiple sheets or across a single sheet – the only difference is the table_array parameter. To search across multiple sheets, you will use the syntax ‘sheetname:sheetname’. For example, the syntax would look something like this: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, ‘sheet1:sheet2’, col_index_num, [range_lookup]). This syntax will search both sheets for the lookup_value and return the corresponding results from the col_index_num column.

If you want to use VLOOKUP to search in Excel in languages other than English, you can use the TEXT function in Excel to convert the language into English. For example, the syntax to search in Excel in Hindi would look like this: =VLOOKUP(TEXT(lookup_value, ‘hi’), table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]). You can also use the syntax ‘bn’ for Bangla.

Another useful technique for using VLOOKUP is to use it to compare two columns of data. For example, you can use VLOOKUP to compare two columns of data and return the values that are in column A but not in column B. To do this, we need to use an array formula. The syntax for this would look something like this:={VLOOKUP(A1:A20, B1:B20, 1, FALSE)} . This will return all of the values from column A that are not in column B.

Finally, you can also use VLOOKUP to compare two columns with different data types. For example, you can use VLOOKUP to compare numbers such as phone numbers or zip codes. To do this, you will need to use the EXACT function in Excel, which will compare two values and return TRUE or FALSE depending on whether they are identical. The syntax for this will look something like this: =EXACT(VLOOKUP(A1:A20, B1:B20, 1, FALSE)). This will compare the values in columns A and B and return TRUE if they are the same.