Unique identifiers include product codes, stock-keeping units (SKUs), and customer contacts.Īlright, enough explanation: let's see another example of the VLOOKUP in action! VLOOKUP Example the identifier is only associated with one record in your database). The secret to how VLOOKUP works? Unique identifiers.Ī unique identifier is a piece of information that both of your data sources share, and - as its name implies - it is unique (i.e. ) The formula needs a unique identifier to retrieve data. Those email addresses must be listed in the column to the right of the names in the second spreadsheet, or Excel won't be able to find them. When VLOOKUP runs this search, it always looks for the new data to the right of your current data.įor instance, if one spreadsheet has a vertical list of names, and another spreadsheet has an unorganized list of those names and their email addresses, you can use VLOOKUP to retrieve those email addresses in the order you have them in your first spreadsheet. When conducting a VLOOKUP in Excel, you're essentially looking for new data in a different spreadsheet that is associated with old data in your current one.
The formula always searches to the right. When you look up your data, it must be listed vertically wherever that data is located. VLOOKUP stands for "vertical lookup." In Excel, this means the act of looking up data vertically across a spreadsheet, using the spreadsheet's columns - and a unique identifier within those columns - as the basis of your search. What does VLOOKUP do, exactly? Here's the simple explanation: The VLOOKUP function searches for a specific value in your data, and once it identifies that value, it can find - and display - some other piece of information that's associated with that value. What's more, it is incredibly powerful, and is definitely something you want to have in your arsenal of analytical weapons. Microsoft Excel's VLOOKUP function is easier to use than you think. But by the time you finish reading this article, you'll wonder how you ever survived in Excel without it. I know, "VLOOKUP function" sounds like the geekiest, most complicated thing ever.
The VLOOKUP function can help you automate this task and save you tons of time. The last thing you want to do is manually transfer cells using copy and paste. That headache can be made even worse when you need to compare data across multiple spreadsheets. Coordinating a massive amount of data in Microsoft Excel is a time-consuming headache.
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