Excel Help

[Der Alta]

Ok, hoping there might be a Microsoft Excel Wizard here in the wings.

if A1=a; A2=b and A3=c and B1=1; B2=2 and B3=3....

using this function in D1 =IF(C1=A1,B1,IF(C1=A2,B2,IF(C1=A3,B3,"?")))

I can type an A, B, or C in C1 and get a 1, 2, or 3 returned in D1.

Now, is there a way to shorten that function?

Thanks,

AO

 

[Der Alta]

Here it is...

AO

 

[GilesGuthrie]

So, what you're saying is that you have a lookup table in columns A and B. You wish to enter a search term in column C, and have column D evaluate that search term and return the requisite cell from column B for the row that corresponds to the search term entered.

Have I got that right?

 

[Der Alta]

Yep, that's about it.

With the IF command, I can have a maximum of 7 references. So I'm trying to find a way I can expand that beyond the IF command.

AO

 

[GilesGuthrie]

You need to use the VLOOKUP function.

This allows you to specify a table. It will search column 1 for your value, and then pick the corresponding cell for the located row, according to which column you specify.

I'll quote straight from Excel 2000 Help:

VLOOKUP

Searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a value in the same row from a column you specify in the table. Use VLOOKUP instead of HLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a column to the left of the data you want to find.

Syntax

VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)

Lookup_value is the value to be found in the first column of the array. Lookup_value can be a value, a reference, or a text string.

Table_array is the table of information in which data is looked up. Use a reference to a range or a range name, such as Database or List.

If range_lookup is TRUE, the values in the first column of table_array must be placed in ascending order: ..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ..., A-Z, FALSE, TRUE; otherwise VLOOKUP may not give the correct value. If range_lookup is FALSE, table_array does not need to be sorted.


You can put the values in ascending order by choosing the Sort command from the Data menu and selecting Ascending.


The values in the first column of table_array can be text, numbers, or logical values.


Uppercase and lowercase text are equivalent.
Col_index_num is the column number in table_array from which the matching value must be returned. A col_index_num of 1 returns the value in the first column in table_array; a col_index_num of 2 returns the value in the second column in table_array, and so on. If col_index_num is less than 1, VLOOKUP returns the #VALUE! error value; if col_index_num is greater than the number of columns in table_array, VLOOKUP returns the #REF! error value.

Range_lookup is a logical value that specifies whether you want VLOOKUP 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 lookup_value is returned. If FALSE, VLOOKUP will find an exact match. If one is not found, the error value #N/A is returned.

Remarks

If VLOOKUP can't find lookup_value, and range_lookup is TRUE, it uses the largest value that is less than or equal to lookup_value.

If lookup_value is smaller than the smallest value in the first column of table_array, VLOOKUP returns the #N/A error value.

If VLOOKUP can't find lookup_value, and range_lookup is FALSE, VLOOKUP returns the #N/A value.

 

[Der Alta]

Gracias, mi amigo.

If I had only known what to search for in the Excel help!

Thanks!

AO