7 VLOOKUP Mistakes Every Excel User Is Prone To Commit

Avoid 7 Vlookup
FREE
Mistakes every
Excel® User is Prone
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By John Franco
Excel-Spreadsheet-Authors.com
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Mistake #1. Writing the Vlookup Formula before

Getting the Backend Table Array Ready
If you are like most users that focus only on writing the Vlookup and
wait the answer to be pulled and be presented to you, big mistake.
You may sometimes have the results done, other times you will
struggle until desperation.
For example, the following Vlookup formula is correct:

=VLOOKUP(A2,Haystack!$A$2:$E$12,5,0)
Just to remember the syntax:

VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)
But it still returns an unwanted #N/A.
Any change made to the formula will continually retrieve an error.
You need to change your frontend-only mindset. There are so

many things to check at the lookup list first, let’s see…
Is the index column you are looking the left one?

Is the index column free of duplicates?
Is the index column entries free of leading, trailing spaces?
Is the index column sorted ascending (for approximate match)
And other checks…

Mistake #2. Setting a lookup_value that refer to a

non-left index column
It is very common that you set your Vlookup to query unintentionally

another field (a field that is not located to the left)
For example: you are searching Product Codes but your table array
has the Product Price as the leftmost column.
The worst part with Vlookup is that a table array with Product
Price column at the left is only valid to search the Product
Price column.
Query other field by moving the index column to the leftmost side of
your table array before writing the Vlookup formula.
If you are bored to move the given column to the left each time you
search a different field, you should use the INDEX and MATCH
formula.

Mistake #3. Forgetting to Assign Absolute Reference

($) to the table_array Argument before Copying the
Formula
As many formulas, Vlookup is also copied and pasted down.
For example, the following Vlookup formula is correct:
=VLOOKUP(A2,haystack!A2:E12,5,0)
After being copied and pasted down once, you have now this one…
=VLOOKUP(A3,haystack!A3:E13,5,0)
The above formula is apparently correct but…
What is wrong?
The table_array went from A2:E12 to A3:E12
This may appear so simple but it is something overlooked.
Avoid it by just selecting the table_array argument and press F4 to

set the absolute reference.
Once the formula is absolute referenced like this one:

=VLOOKUP(A2,Haystack!$A$2:$E$12,5,0) you can then go on.
Believe me that detecting an error in the formula:

=VLOOKUP(A3,haystack!A3:E13,5,0) is not as easy as appear to be.

Mistake #4. Forgetting to Set the Argument

range_lookup to 0 for the Exact Match VLOOKUP
Many users overlooked the importance of setting the correct

range_lookup parameter.
Just to remember:
range_lookup=0 means that Vlookup will search the exact match

only
range_lookup=1 means that Vlookup will search the exact or

approximate match
Here is the missing part, if you omit range_lookup, Excel interprets it

as 1.
The worst part occurs when you assume the approximate-

returned-value is the exact match. Big mistake.
This is easily overlooked. Just to illustrate the point, let me ask you a
question: did you notice it in the following formula?
=VLOOKUP(A3,haystack!$A$3:$E$13,5)

Mistake #5. Entering the lookup_value Incorrectly
Well, you have all things set correct.
But…
You don’t have the guidelines to enter Text, Dates or numbers in the
lookup_value.
Don’t worry…
Here are clear guidelines:
Enter the number with all the decimals, for example:

=VLOOKUP(1.23,arguments) may return #N/A because the
number in table_array is 1.225. Excel works with all the decimals
behind the scenes
Don't quote numbers, for example
=VLOOKUP("1.23",arguments)
Quote texts, for example =VLOOKUP("Susan",arguments). Excel
interprets strings without quotes as named ranges
Hard code dates properly, do it this way:
o Use a number that represents a date serial number
=VLOOKUP(40091, …)
o Use DATEVALUE function this way:
=VLOOKUP(DATEVALUE("10/5/2009"), …)
o Use DATE function this way:
=VLOOKUP(DATE(2009,10,5),H5:I7,2,0),...)

Mistake #6. Swearing Vlookup is the Solution to All

your Lookup Reports Assignments
Many users discover the power of Vlookup and fall in love too fast
with it.
In fact, Vlookup formula is a big deal but has its shortcomings.
Don’t waste your time trying to get more from the inappropriate
formula.
Here are the Vlookup Exact Match limitations listed:
VLOOKUP 0 searches on a left index column. Why left? Databases

tables have the key column on the left so I assume they consider
this in the design. (INDEX and MATCH allow you to set the index
column)
VLOOKUP 0 does not retrieve the location of the found value in
terms or row, column or cell reference. This data is crucial in some
applications, for example: when you want to use adjacent data or
take decisions about what to do next according to the location of
the value. The function MATCH retrieves the row number of the
value found
VLOOKUP 0 only retrieves the first occurrence. This is especially
dangerous when you use wildcards or when you have duplicates
with wrong attributes
VLOOKUP 0 searches based on single criteria only. Well, there are
workarounds to overcome this: Helper columns, Array Formulas
and SUMPRODUCT

Mistake #7. Trying to Fix the Error at the Frontend

when the Cause is at the Backend and vice versa
The worst part of fixing errors in a Vlookup formula is being

disoriented.
Getting a #N/A and not knowing where to start is really

frustrating.
I have abandoned spreadsheets due to my incapacity to detect the

source of a given error. If you are using Vlookup constantly, this may
have happened to you too.
If so…
This is easily overcome. You must write the formula just after all the
variables that produce errors are correctly set.
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About John
John Franco is native of Ecuador, he is a Civil
Engineer and a bachelor in Applied Linguistics with
focus on creating systems for work, his long term
objective in life is helping others to put their ideas into
the world.
His first entrepreneurial initiative is the web site

http://www.excel-spreadsheet-authors.com/; which is dedicated to
mid/advanced Excel users so they can polish their skills to reach
higher productivity and clarity.
He quitted his job after having worked 7 years for Norberto

Odebrecht Construction Company (ranked among the World’s Top 50
Largest Construction Contracting Firms according to Engineering News
Record 2008).
Email him at: john.francofarias@gmail.com

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Mistake #1. Writing the Vlookup Formula before

For example, the following Vlookup formula is correct:

Just to remember the syntax:

But it still returns an unwanted #N/A.

Any change made to the formula will continually retrieve an error.

You need to change your frontend-only mindset. There are so

Is the index column you are looking the left one?

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #2. Setting a lookup_value that refer to a

It is very common that you set your Vlookup to query unintentionally

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #3. Forgetting to Assign Absolute Reference

As many formulas, Vlookup is also copied and pasted down.

For example, the following Vlookup formula is correct:

The above formula is apparently correct but…

The table_array went from A2:E12 to A3:E12

This may appear so simple but it is something overlooked.

Avoid it by just selecting the table_array argument and press F4 to

Once the formula is absolute referenced like this one:

Believe me that detecting an error in the formula:

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #4. Forgetting to Set the Argument

Many users overlooked the importance of setting the correct

range_lookup=0 means that Vlookup will search the exact match

range_lookup=1 means that Vlookup will search the exact or

Here is the missing part, if you omit range_lookup, Excel interprets it

The worst part occurs when you assume the approximate-

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #5. Entering the lookup_value Incorrectly

Well, you have all things set correct.

Here are clear guidelines:

Enter the number with all the decimals, for example:

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #6. Swearing Vlookup is the Solution to All

In fact, Vlookup formula is a big deal but has its shortcomings.

Here are the Vlookup Exact Match limitations listed:

VLOOKUP 0 searches on a left index column. Why left? Databases

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

Mistake #7. Trying to Fix the Error at the Frontend

The worst part of fixing errors in a Vlookup formula is being

Getting a #N/A and not knowing where to start is really

I have abandoned spreadsheets due to my incapacity to detect the

Print this eBook and distribute it

Email this eBook to 5 friends or

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

What Readers Say about Excel-Spreadsheet-

July 15, 2009

"Hi John... you have very good content

I am subscribing to your blog for my

Chandoo, Pointy Haired Dilbert

See more testimonials

Posted on June 19, 2009 in the LinkedIn group

"This is an excellent article. I have dealt with the

I am truly interested to discover what other

Get Excel Tactics & Tips in your inbox Subscribe here

August 11, 2009

"Thanks - lots of useful articles on

Danielle Stein Fairhurst

Help me spreading the word…