How can VLOOKUP identify between multiple choices for > 1 batch?

I

Ivan Thorn

We are a manufacturing unit and produce mulitple items from one job. So Job
"A" may result in products "B" & "C". VLOOKUP will only find the first
instance when running stock reports as it only searches on 1 column. Is
there a way to have this function look at multiple (2 columns) and return a
value?
 
A

arno

Hi Ivan,
Is there a way to have this function look at multiple (2
columns) and return a value?
Click to expand...

you can add a column to your data that combines the 2 columns just by
eg. formula in A1 =B1&C1. if this formula is in the first column of
your data, vlookup will find it. However, this will only work correctly
if B1&C1 is a unique value.

arno
 
F

Franz

We are a manufacturing unit and produce mulitple items from one job.
So Job "A" may result in products "B" & "C". VLOOKUP will only find
the first instance when running stock reports as it only searches on
1 column. Is there a way to have this function look at multiple (2
columns) and return a value?
Click to expand...


Maybe you can find some ideas at Chip Pearson's site:

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/lookups.htm

--
Hoping to be helpful...

Regards

Franz
 
A

arno

Hi Ivan,
...it works a treat
Click to expand...

glad to hear that. However, pls. consider the link franz suggested. in
my solution you need an extra column with formulas with the "key" to
the database and a simple lookup. the other solution does not require
an extra column, however, the lookup is a bit tricky.

arno
 
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