I think you might need to be a bit more specific about where the data is and
which cell you want to use as a lookup, etc.
But, let's say you have reference numbers in column A and descriptions in
column B. And, let's say, you had a reference number in cell C1 that you
wanted to find the description for ...
The formula would look like: =VLOOKUP(C1,A:B,2,FALSE)
Using VLOOKUP, you need to search for something in column 1 ... in this case
column A. You can then return a value from one of the columns after column
1 (A). Again, in this case, it is returning the description from column 2 =
column B. The last parameter, FALSE, means the table doesn't need to be in
order.
That's the basics. Maybe look at the "book" again or better use the Excel
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.
The V in VLOOKUP stands for "Vertical."
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.
a.. 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.
b.. You can put the values in ascending order by choosing the Sort command
from the Data menu and selecting Ascending.
c.. The values in the first column of table_array can be text, numbers, or
logical values.
d.. 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
a.. 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.
b.. If lookup_value is smaller than the smallest value in the first column
of table_array, VLOOKUP returns the #N/A error value.
c.. If VLOOKUP can't find lookup_value, and range_lookup is FALSE, VLOOKUP
returns the #N/A value.
There is an example but I doubt it would copy well.
Regards
Trevor
