When working with large datasets in Google Sheets, it’s often necessary to look up specific values in one sheet and retrieve corresponding information from another sheet. This is where the VLOOKUP function comes in handy. VLOOKUP stands for “vertical lookup” and is used to find a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use VLOOKUP to look up values between two Google Sheets.
Why Use VLOOKUP?
VLOOKUP is a powerful function that allows you to quickly and easily retrieve data from one sheet based on a value in another sheet. This function is especially useful when you need to match values between two sheets and retrieve corresponding information. For example, if you have a list of customer names in one sheet and corresponding order numbers in another sheet, you can use VLOOKUP to look up a customer name and retrieve their corresponding order number.
Overview of the Tutorial
In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of using VLOOKUP to look up values between two Google Sheets. We will start by explaining the syntax of the VLOOKUP function and then move on to some practical examples. By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to use VLOOKUP to look up values between two Google Sheets and retrieve corresponding information.
Getting Started
In this tutorial, we will assume that you have two Google Sheets, Sheet1 and Sheet2, with the following data:
Sheet1:
| Customer Name | Order Number |
| — | — |
| John Smith | 12345 |
| Jane Doe | 67890 |
| Bob Johnson | 34567 |
Sheet2:
| Order Number | Product Name |
| — | — |
| 12345 | Product A |
| 67890 | Product B |
| 34567 | Product C | (See Also: How To Get Dividend Yield In Google Sheets)
In this example, we want to look up a customer name in Sheet1 and retrieve the corresponding product name from Sheet2. We will use VLOOKUP to achieve this.
How To Do A Vlookup Between 2 Google Sheets
VLOOKUP is a powerful function in Google Sheets that allows you to search for a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. In this article, we will explore how to perform a VLOOKUP between two Google Sheets.
Prerequisites
To perform a VLOOKUP between two Google Sheets, you will need to have the following:
- A Google Sheet with the data you want to search
- A Google Sheet with the data you want to return
- The VLOOKUP function
Step 1: Set Up Your Data
Before you can perform a VLOOKUP, you need to set up your data in a way that makes sense for your needs. This includes:
- Creating a unique identifier for each row in your data
- Organizing your data into columns
- Ensuring that the data is in a format that can be easily searched
For example, if you have a list of customers with their names and addresses, you could create a unique identifier for each customer by using their email address or customer ID.
Step 2: Write the VLOOKUP Formula
The VLOOKUP formula is written as follows:
VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
Here’s a breakdown of what each part of the formula does:
- Lookup_value: The value you want to search for in the table
- Table_array: The range of cells that contains the data you want to search
- Col_index_num: The column number that contains the value you want to return
- Range_lookup: A boolean value that determines whether you want an exact match or an approximate match
For example, if you want to find the address of a customer with the email address “[email protected]”, you could write the VLOOKUP formula as follows: (See Also: How To Overlay Graphs In Google Sheets)
VLOOKUP("[email protected]", A2:E10, 3, FALSE)
Step 3: Adjust the Formula to Match Your Data
Once you have written the VLOOKUP formula, you need to adjust it to match your data. This includes:
- Changing the lookup value to match the value you want to search for
- Adjusting the table array to match the range of cells that contains the data you want to search
- Changing the column index number to match the column that contains the value you want to return
For example, if you want to find the address of a customer with the email address “[email protected]”, you could adjust the formula as follows:
VLOOKUP("[email protected]", A2:E10, 3, FALSE)
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored how to perform a VLOOKUP between two Google Sheets. By following the steps outlined above, you can use the VLOOKUP function to search for values in a table and return corresponding values from another column.
Recap
To recap, the steps to perform a VLOOKUP between two Google Sheets are:
- Set up your data in a way that makes sense for your needs
- Write the VLOOKUP formula using the correct syntax
- Adjust the formula to match your data
By following these steps, you can use the VLOOKUP function to simplify your data analysis and make it easier to find the information you need.
Here are five FAQs related to “How To Do A Vlookup Between 2 Google Sheets”:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VLOOKUP and how does it work?
VLOOKUP is a function in Google Sheets that allows you to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. It works by searching for a value in the first column of a range and then returning the value in the same row from the column specified by the function.
How do I set up the range for VLOOKUP?
To set up the range for VLOOKUP, you need to specify the range of cells that contains the data you want to search and the column that contains the value you want to return. The range should be in the format “A1:B10”, where “A1” is the top-left cell and “B10” is the bottom-right cell. You can also use named ranges or references to make the formula more readable.
What is the syntax for VLOOKUP in Google Sheets?
The syntax for VLOOKUP in Google Sheets is “VLOOKUP(lookup_value, range, index, [is_sorted])”. The “lookup_value” is the value you want to search for, the “range” is the range of cells that contains the data, the “index” is the column number that contains the value you want to return, and the “[is_sorted]” is an optional parameter that specifies whether the data is sorted or not.
How do I handle errors in VLOOKUP?
VLOOKUP returns a N/A error if the lookup value is not found in the range. You can use the IFERROR function to handle this error and return a custom message or value instead. For example, you can use the formula “IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A1, B1:C10, 2, FALSE), “Not found”)” to return the message “Not found” if the value is not found.
Can I use VLOOKUP with multiple criteria?
Yes, you can use VLOOKUP with multiple criteria by using the INDEX-MATCH function combination. This allows you to search for a value in multiple columns and return a value from another column. For example, you can use the formula “INDEX(C2:C10, MATCH(1, (A2:A10=A1)*(B2:B10=B1), 0))” to search for a value in columns A and B and return a value from column C.