This document is a training course on how to use the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel. The course contains an overview of VLOOKUP, 5 instructional videos demonstrating how to use VLOOKUP, suggested practice tasks, a test with 6 multiple choice questions, and a quick reference card summarizing VLOOKUP. VLOOKUP looks up values in a table or list and returns a corresponding value, similar to looking up a name in a phone book. The course teaches how to properly enter and use the VLOOKUP arguments to find values and avoid errors.
Training presentation vlookup - what it is, and when to use it
1. Before you begin
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3. Course contents
• Overview: What’s that function?
• Lesson: Includes five instructional movies
• Suggested practice tasks
• Test
• Quick Reference Card
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
4. Overview: What’s that function?
In this course, you’ll learn how to use
VLOOKUP to look up a value you want
to find in an Excel list or table.
Using VLOOKUP is similar to looking up
a person’s name in a telephone book to
get a telephone number. VLOOKUP
looks at a value in one column, and
finds its corresponding value on the
same row in another column.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
5. Course goals
• Enter VLOOKUP arguments in a formula.
• Use VLOOKUP to find values in Excel lists or
tables.
• Avoid VLOOKUP errors.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
6. Introduction to VLOOKUP
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VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
7. How, and when, to use VLOOKUP
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VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
8. Using more than one spreadsheet with VLOOKUP
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VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
9. Using absolute cell references with VLOOKUP
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VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
10. Avoiding VLOOKUP errors
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VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
11. Suggestions for practice
1. Use VLOOKUP.
2. Use absolute cell references in a VLOOKUP formula you
copy down a column.
3. Use a named range in a VLOOKUP formula.
4. Use VLOOKUP on more than one spreadsheet.
5. Use VLOOKUP to look up a discount.
6. Bonus exercise: Create an Excel table.
Online practice (requires Excel 2010)
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
12. Test question 1
The lookup_value argument (the value you are searching
for) must be in the leftmost column of your list or table.
(Pick one answer.)
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
1. True.
2. False.
13. Test question 1
The lookup_value argument (the value you are searching
for) must be in the leftmost column of your list or table.
Answer:
Excel looks for the lookup_value in the first, or leftmost
column of your list or table. If the lookup_value is in some
other column, VLOOKUP won’t work.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
1. True.
14. Test question 2
What is the table_array argument? (Pick one answer.)
1. The lookup table.
2. Where you want to search.
3. Both of the above.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
15. Test question 2
What is the table_array argument?
Answer:
3. Both of the above.
The table_array argument is also called the lookup table. It’s
where you want VLOOKUP to search.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
16. Test question 3
What is the col_index_num argument? (Pick one answer.)
1. The column number for your search result column.
2. The column heading for your search result column.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
17. Test question 3
What is the col_index_num argument?
Answer:
1. The column number for your search result column.
You count, starting at one with the leftmost column across
the list or table to get the number of the column that
contains the search result.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
18. Test question 4
The range_lookup argument is either True, or False. With
False, you get which of the following? (Pick one answer.)
1. An approximate match.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
2. An exact match.
19. Test question 4
The range_lookup argument is either True, or False. With
False, you get which of the following?
Answer:
2. An exact match.
False is an exact match.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
20. Test question 5
If your range_lookup argument is True, you need to sort
the leftmost column in ascending order. (Pick one
answer.)
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
1. True.
2. False.
21. Test question 5
If your range_lookup argument is True, you need to sort
the leftmost column in ascending order.
Answer:
Sort the leftmost column in ascending order (or from a
through z), or you may get the wrong results.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
1. True.
22. Test question 6
When you use VLOOKUP, you must do which of the
following? (Pick one answer.)
1. Have a list or table arranged in vertical columns.
2. Use a lookup_value in the leftmost column of the
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
lookup table.
3. Use the column number, counting from the left, that
contains the search result.
4. Indicate whether the range_lookup is True (approximate)
or False (exact).
5. All of the above.
23. Test question 6
When you use VLOOKUP, you must do which of the
following?
Answer:
5. All of the above.
Now you know the VLOOKUP essentials!
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
24. Quick Reference Card
For a summary of the tasks covered in this course, view the
Quick Reference Card.
VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it
Editor's Notes
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[Notes to trainer:
If you’re taking this course, you should already be familiar with Excel formulas.
This presentation must be viewed in PowerPoint 2010. If you don’t have PowerPoint 2010, the videos included in the presentation will not play. If you don’t have PowerPoint 2010, download the PowerPoint Viewer to view these files (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=cb9bf144%2D1076%2D4615%2D9951%2D294eeb832823).
If the yellow security bar appears at the top of the screen in PowerPoint, or if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing.
For detailed help in customizing this template, see the very last slide. Also, look for additional lesson text in the notes pane of some slides.]
[Note to trainer: If you have trouble playing this video, for instance if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing. Note that even with Protected View turned on, video should play correctly in Slide Show view.]
[Note to trainer: If you have trouble playing this video, for instance if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing. Note that even with Protected View turned on, video should play correctly in Slide Show view.]
[Note to trainer: If you have trouble playing this video, for instance if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing. Note that even with Protected View turned on, video should play correctly in Slide Show view.]
[Note to trainer: If you have trouble playing this video, for instance if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing. Note that even with Protected View turned on, video should play correctly in Slide Show view.]
[Note to trainer: If you have trouble playing this video, for instance if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing. Note that even with Protected View turned on, video should play correctly in Slide Show view.]
[Note to trainer: With Excel 2010 installed on your computer, you can click the link in the slide to go to an online practice. In the practice, you can work through each of these tasks in Excel 2010, with instructions to guide you. Important: If you don’t have Excel 2010, you won’t be able to access the practice instructions.]
Using This Template
This Microsoft PowerPoint® template has training content about using the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel® 2010, to look up a value you want to find in an Excel list or table. Its content is adapted from the Office.com Training course called “VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it.”
PowerPoint version: The template must be viewed in PowerPoint 2010. If you don’t have PowerPoint 2010, the videos included in the presentation will not play. If you don’t have PowerPoint 2010, download the PowerPoint Viewer to view these files (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=cb9bf144%2D1076%2D4615%2D9951%2D294eeb832823). Video playback: If the yellow security bar appears at the top of the screen in PowerPoint, or if a Codec Unavailable message appears in the video playback window, the presentation might have opened in Protected View. To enable video playback, in the yellow security bar at the top of the PowerPoint window, click Enable Editing.
Slide layouts: Each slide has a custom layout. To apply the custom layout to a new slide, right-click the slide thumbnail, point to Layout, and click the layout from the Layout gallery. To alter the layouts, open master view and alter the specific master layout in that view. You can find the layout’s title by pointing to its thumbnail.
Animations: Custom animation effects are applied throughout the presentation. These include Float In (Up or Down option), Fade, and Zoom. To alter animation effects, click the Animations tab, and use the Add Animation gallery and Timing options. Effect Options gives you choices about the effect; click Animation Pane on the Animations tab to work with multiple animations.
Transitions: One transition, Doors, is used to emphasize sections of the slide show. It’s applied on the Course Contents slide, Lesson slide, and the first test slide.
Hyperlinks to online course: The template contains links to the online version of this training course. The links take you to the hands-on practice session for the lesson and to the Quick Reference Card that is published for the course. Please take note: You must have Excel 2010 installed to view the hands-on practice session. If you don’t have Excel 2010, you won’t be able to access the practice instructions.
Headers and footers: The template contains a footer that has the course title. To add footers such as the date or slide numbers, click the Insert tab, and click Header & Footer.
