VLOOKUP To Find Your Perfect Match

Using the FALSE argument in Excel can help you find a true match in a lookup table, while eliminating a lot of the confusion that is common with such comparisons. However, you can use the FALSE argument to your advantage.

Sometimes lookup tables do not require an exact match. Example, to find shipping costs, the cost of the item must fall within a certain range. However, some situations, such as one that matches up an ID number with a particular person's name, require an exact match. The lookup formula in this instance requires the FALSE argument at the end of the statement.

Suppose you have a list of employee ID numbers in A1:A100; the list of their corresponding names is in B1:B100. To create a lookup formula that looks for an exact match to an employee's ID number, follow these steps:

1. Select A1:B100.
2. Click in the Name box of the formula bar and enter Employee_List.
3. In D1, enter What is the employee ID number?
4. In D2, enter The employee's name is.
5. In E2, enter the following formula:
6. =IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(E1,Employee_List,2,FALSE)),"Not
   Found",VLOOKUP(E1,Employee_List,2,FALSE))

When you enter an employee ID number from Employee_List in E1, the name of the employee will appear in E2. If no exact match appears, Excel will display "Notfound" in E2. Note: By placing the FALSE argument in the VLOOKUP formula, you do not need to sort the list of employee ID numbers.