Are you struggling to perform two-way lookup using Vlookup in Google Sheets? Well, guess what? The good news is that it is indeed possible! In this article, I will show you how to accomplish this task by combining the power of Vlookup with other essential functions. So, let’s dive right in and unlock this incredible feature together!
Understanding Two-Way Lookup
Before we proceed, let’s quickly grasp the concept of two-way lookup. In simple terms, this technique allows you to search for information by using two different criteria simultaneously. It involves finding a search key in the first column and another search key in the first row of a table, ultimately returning the intersecting value.
The Perfect Combination: Vlookup and Match
To achieve a successful two-way lookup in Google Sheets, we need to combine the Vlookup function with another powerful function called Match. You might also consider using the combination of Vlookup and Hlookup, which I will discuss later.
So, let’s take a look at the syntax of the two-way lookup formula using Vlookup and Match:
VLOOKUP(search_key, range, MATCH, [is_sorted])This combination is incredibly versatile as it allows for both vertical and horizontal lookup simultaneously. In fact, you can even obtain array results, meaning multiple search keys are possible!
Mastering Two-Way Lookup Using Vlookup
To provide you with a better understanding, let’s explore an example of a non-array formula for two-way lookup using Vlookup and Match:
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(F3,A2:D,MATCH(G3,A2:D2,0),0))In this example, the formula returns the mark of “Student 2” in the subject “Physics,” which is 76. The Match function searches for the keyword “Student 2” and returns its relative position, allowing the Vlookup function to find the corresponding mark.
But what if you have multiple search keys? Not to worry! We can still achieve this using an array formula. Here’s an example:
=ArrayFormula(IFERROR(VLOOKUP(F3:F,A2:D,MATCH(G3:G,A2:D2,0),0)))As you can see, the only difference is that we include the ranges containing the keywords (F3:F and G3:G), and we wrap the formula with ArrayFormula to expand the results.
Exploring the Vlookup and Hlookup Combination
For those who prefer using Hlookup instead of the Match function, don’t fret! Two-way lookup in Google Sheets is achievable with the combination of Vlookup and Hlookup as well. Here’s an example that can replace the array formula mentioned above:
=ArrayFormula(IFERROR(VLOOKUP(F3:F,A2:D,HLOOKUP(G3:G,{A2:D2;COLUMN(A2:D2)},2,0),0)))In Conclusion
Congratulations! You now possess the knowledge to master two-way lookup using Vlookup in Google Sheets. Experiment with the combinations discussed in this article to find the one that suits your needs best. And remember, if you have any questions or doubts about the formulas presented here, feel free to comment below. I am here to simplify the steps for you.
Happy exploring, my fellow Google Sheets enthusiasts! And don’t forget to check out Crawlan.com for more Google Sheets tips and tricks!
