Microsoft Excel is one of the complete programs for editing spreadsheets.But it’s also one of the few programs Multiple functions that can be used together. Each of these functions allows us to perform operations in the Excel file. If we want to search data by row or column, we can use functions to find the data we need.
Which formula is best to find a value in Excel?
One of the most commonly used functions to find values in an Excel file is VLOOKUP function. However, this feature only allows you to search for values in the first column on the left.
In addition, there are other functions that allow you to find data, such as the MATCH function.but if what you need is Search for values or data by row or columnyou should know that you can use the VLOOKUP and MATCH functions at the same time.
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it is one of Search and Citation Features Possesses Microsoft Excel program. This function allows us to look up any value in the database or search from one sheet to another.
VLOOKUP function in Excel Help us find matching values in the first column of our database. Also, this function specifically looks for the values they find on the right. So the searched value must be in the first column of the database.
This feature is very useful when you need to search in a single row or column find a value from the same location in the second row or second column. The goal of this function is to find a value that matches the search value.
The limitations you can put forward when using the VLOOKUP feature are that if your The file contains the values on the left. So if your data is not positioned left-to-right, this feature won’t help. In these cases, you may choose to use the matching function.
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This feature allows us to search for a certain value in a range of cells. MATCH function in Exceluseful to find a value in a range of cells and return us the relative position of that value within that range.
This function is very useful because it allows us to get the row number occupied by the searched value.If you use this function, you can Perform a relative content search in a spreadsheet.
Its limitation is that it only allows you Search for values in a given range. So using it won’t show all the values matching your search in your Excel file.
How to use SEARCH and MATCH functions at the same time?
The VLOOKUP and MATCH functions can be used independently, depending on the database of the Excel file. despite this, These functions can also be used together So you will have a wider search scope.
It is important to know that when these two functions are used, data filters are generated in the form of collections.this will allow you to expand your search parametersThe .VLOOKUP function is used to look up values in a table and if you use the MATCH function it will allow you to associate a data validation list with the VLOOKUP function.
To use these two functions, you need a database in the Excel workbook. You will then need to perform a series of steps depending on the type of database you have and the values you expect to find in the database.
If you want to use the VLOOKUP or MATCH functions to search for values, you need to locate yourself somewhere in the database.Do Search by row and columnyou must use the MATCH function in the VLOOKUP function.
- Once you are at a point in the database, you will have to go to the formula bar.where should you be write «find»Then enclose the rest of the formula in parentheses.
- When opening brackets, you have to put the range of columns you want to search. Example=VLOOKUP(B2, A2:D15)
- followed by the search scope for the VLOOKUP function, you need Insert function MATCH.
- After the MATCH function, you need to enclose the range of cells you want to search in parentheses and add zeros to the end of the formula. Example=VLOOKUP(B2, A5:D15, MATCH(B1, A4:D4,0).
- Finally, once you have completed the structure of the formula, you need to Put the «FALSE» function at the end of the formula. Example = VLOOKUP(B2, A5:D15, MATCH(B1, A4:D4,0),FALSE).