XL2000: Range_Lookup Argument in VLOOKUP Finds Exact Match

ID: Q181213

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 2000

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later, the VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions contain an argument called range_lookup.

NOTE: It is not necessary to sort the lookup table if you use the range_lookup argument correctly.

MORE INFORMATION

The syntax of these functions are different than in earlier versions and are defined as follows.

VLOOKUP Function


   =VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)

where:


   Argument     Definition of argument
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   lookup_value The value to be found in the first column of the array.

   table_array  The table of information in which data is looked up.

   col_index    The column number in the table_array for which the
                matching value should be returned.

   range_lookup This argument is used in Microsoft Excel versions
                5.0 and later. It is a logical value that specifies whether
                you want to find an exact match or an approximate match.
                If TRUE or omitted, an approximate match is returned; in
                other words, if an exact match is not found, the next
                largest value that is less than the lookup_value is
                returned. If FALSE, VLOOKUP finds an exact match. If an
                exact match is not found, the #N/A error value is returned.

NOTE: If range_lookup is TRUE or omitted (for an approximate match), the values in the first column of table_array must be sorted in ascending order. If range_lookup is FALSE (for an exact match), the table_array does not need to be sorted.

HLOOKUP Function


=HLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,row_index_num,range_lookup)

where:


   Argument     Definition of argument
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   lookup_value The value to be found in the first column of the array.

   table_array  The table of information in which data is looked up.

   row_index    The row number in the table_array for which the
                matching value should be returned.

   range_lookup This argument is used in Microsoft Excel versions
                5.0 and later. It is a logical value that specifies whether
                you want to find an exact match or an approximate match.
                If TRUE or omitted, an approximate match is returned; in
                other words, if an exact match is not found, the next
                largest value that is less than the lookup_value is
                returned. If FALSE, VLOOKUP finds an exact match.
                If an exact match is not found, the #N/A error value is
                returned.

NOTE: If range_lookup is TRUE or omitted (for an approximate match), the values in the first row of table_array must be sorted in ascending order. If range_lookup is FALSE (for an exact match), the table_array does not need to be sorted.

In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel (earlier than version 5.0), the INDEX and MATCH functions must be used to find an exact match in the table_array.

For additional information about using the VLOOKUP function Microsoft Excel, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q181212 XL2000: Performing a Lookup with Unsorted Data in Excel

REFERENCES

For more information about the HLOOKUP function, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type HLOOKUP worksheet function in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about the VLOOKUP function, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type VLOOKUP worksheet function in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

Keywords : xlformula
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo