The Most Important Excel Function You Will Ever Learn: VLOOKUP Function

Use the VLOOKUP function to look up an input value (usually an ID number) on a reference table and spit out another value that's associated with it.

A common example is to look up a Product ID Number, and use it to find the price of that product from a price list.

VLOOKUP Arguments Explained:

lookup_value = What value do you want to use to find other values?
table_array = Where is the lookup table of other values?
col_index_num = Which column number (relative to the lookup table) is the data you want to find located in?
range_lookup = Do you want an Exact Match (FALSE) or Approximate Match (TRUE)?

Note: I highly recommend practicing this function over and over again until you get the hang of it. It's quite challenging, but also extremely powerful.

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[Sefardess]

I've been doing temp work for over 2 years (unfortunately), and during that time I've taken your class and had the chance during the course of many temp assignments to practice what I learned. Up until most recently, (within the last month), I had not had too many chances to practice vlookup knowledge in a real-world setting. I now use Vlookup daily and get to be an Excel nerd all day at work. Infact, they hired me just to be an Excel geek! AND get better money while doing it. what a dream! I am working on AR aging and balancing revenue using "IF" statements (which Shir teaches in my class btw), that they want done relatively fast and I use VLookup to help save me LOTS AND LOTS of time. The example I have is often trying to find one of three daily, (an invoice #, a purchase order#, or an order#, also using those three to find the invoice amt). It finally clicked in my brain just what a GREAT FUNCTION vlookup is. Just wanted to give you a shout-out Shir. (hope you're not too tired of my praise yet) :p anyway and seriously, YEAH folks, save yourself some TIME AND MONEY and take his class.

[excelshir]

Ms. Sefardess, I will never grow tired of your kind words! :) Thank you very very much! These kinds of notes remind me why I do what I do. Keep rocking out!! P.S. When you're ready, I recommend delving into the world of INDEX and MATCH.