Vlookup - An Excel Tool to Manage Data
If you are looking for a better way to show records that has a reference to a look up table, you can use Microsoft Excel. You will be able to automatically assign it to look for the equivalent value as stored in a separate table independent from your main data. This can be implemented with the use of the formula Vlookup. It is basically a vertical look up of a particular entry and will return a value based on what is searched in the reference table. The formula or the function is straightforward. It has four parameters that tell Microsoft Excel what it is looking for, where Excel should look for and what should be shown.
Technically, the syntax is as follows:
Vlookup(<parameter 1>,<parameter 2>, <parameter 3>, <parameter 4>)
The first parameter is the item or the code in the table that you want to use as the basis in the lookup table. The second parameter is the exact location of the look up table where the codes and the corresponding values are shown. This table can be stored within the same spreadsheet or can be specified in another spreadsheet. This parameter is a range of cells with the format <start range>:<ending range>. This is similar to specifying a column of cells that you need to get the sum of. The only difference is that with Vlookup, you will have to specify at least two columns. The first one being the code and the other one is the equivalent value or description.
The third parameter is the column number of the corresponding value and this is in numeric format. Thus, if the second column contains the value or description that you are looking for, the parameter should be set to 2. The last parameter is the Boolean value of either TRUE or FALSE. When you set it to TRUE, it means you are allowing Microsoft Excel to approximate matches and return when there is such. FALSE means you are looking for an exact match of the code that you are looking for.
When you have specified the four parameters, you only have to choose the location where the corresponding value will be shown. In just a few clicks, you already have table referencing implemented in Microsoft Excel. You are free from the worries of understanding complex database commands. The best thing is that you can now easily manage your data. In just one sitting, you will learn how to use the function. The result will be better organization for your records. If this will be for your business, you have enhanced the capabilities of your spreadsheet and you have a way of better organizing vital information. If it is for personal use, you know that you have used a function that not all Microsoft Excel users are familiar of. You are now ahead in this skill and it can help you better with your recording system. Start using Vlookup and share its capabilities to your friends. There is nothing complex about it.
