The LOOKUP Functions
Like IF and CHOOSE, LOOKUPs are a selection function.
They work by 'looking up' a selector value in a table of data held in the spreadsheet.
They then select a value from a different part of that table that shares either the same row or column as the selector.
There are 2 types:
- VLOOKUP for vertical tables
- HLOOKUP for horizontal tables
LOOKUP Functions have 3 arguments a Selector,Table and Offset.
- Selector - A value to be "looked up" in a table.
- Table - The range of cells to be used for the table.
- Offset - the column containing the value to be returned.
Where the selector value does not match any of the values in the table the nearest lower value is used.
Selector values must be in ascending order either down (VLOOKUP) or across (HLOOKUP) the table.
Practice Exercise
You should attempt the IF and Lookups - Exercise f from the Spreadsheet Exercises listed in the Topic Menu below.