I think that I already typed this in, but forgot to click on the submit question button. Could you please provide me with some reference material as to how vertical lookup works? All of the formula fields cause me to become clueless! What are lookup values, table arrays, column index numbers, and range lookups?
Go into some of these tutorials and read and/or search for the topic you need help with:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=excel+tutorials
I was already using a tutorial, but I did not like it as well for this this particular feature. That is why I came here. . .
There are two tutors here who might be able to answer your question more directly. Be sure to check back later today and even tonight.
Please repost tomorrow if one of them doesn't see your question today or tonight.
Certainly! I can explain how vertical lookup, also known as VLOOKUP, works in Excel. VLOOKUP is a powerful function that allows you to search for a particular value in a vertical column of a table or range and retrieve information from other columns in the same row. Let's break down the key components of VLOOKUP:
1. Lookup Value: This is the value you want to search for in the leftmost column of your table or range. It can be a reference to a cell containing the value or a direct value.
2. Table Array: This is the range of data in which you want to search for the lookup value. The table array consists of multiple columns, with the leftmost column containing the lookup values.
3. Column Index Number: This specifies which column's value you want to retrieve as the result of the VLOOKUP function. It represents the relative position of the column (counting from the left) in the table array that contains the desired values. For example, a column index number of 2 would retrieve the value from the second column in the table array.
4. Range Lookup: This is an optional parameter that determines how the VLOOKUP function handles the lookup value if an exact match is not found in the leftmost column of the table array. If you set the range lookup to "TRUE" or omit it, VLOOKUP will perform an approximate match using the closest value that is less than or equal to the lookup value. If you set the range lookup to "FALSE", VLOOKUP will only return an exact match.
To use VLOOKUP, you can follow these steps:
1. Select the cell where you want to display the result of the VLOOKUP function.
2. Type "=VLOOKUP(" and then enter the lookup value.
3. Type a comma and specify the table array by selecting the range of cells that contain the data you want to search.
4. Type a comma and enter the column index number.
5. Type a comma and specify the range lookup as "TRUE" or "FALSE" (optional).
6. Close the bracket and press Enter to get the result.
If you want to learn more about VLOOKUP or need additional guidance, you can refer to the official Microsoft Excel documentation or search for online tutorials and guides on VLOOKUP. Additionally, there are many video tutorials available on platforms like YouTube that provide step-by-step explanations of how to use VLOOKUP effectively.