Vlookup function question
 

I am using two spreadsheets. Both spreadsheets have last name and first
names of students from our school. I am trying to lookup the student numbers
from one spreadsheet and populate to the other. I can do it just fine except
when there are duplicate last names. Does anyone know how to lookup more
than just one column on duplicate last names. Example, Williams (last name)
tons of them, I need Excel to look at Williams and first name (Jane) before
returning the student number.

Thanks. SL

Hi!

Maybe this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A1:A100="last_name"),--(B1:B100="first_name"),C1:C100)

OR....

Redo your lookup table so that the first column includes both
lastname,firstname

OR....

Assume lookup table is such:

Column A = lastname
Column B = firstname
Column C = student number

D1 = Williams
E1 = Venus

=INDEX(C1:C100,MATCH(D1&E1,A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

Array entered using the key combo of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER.

Biff

"SL" wrote in message
...
I am using two spreadsheets. Both spreadsheets have last name and first
names of students from our school. I am trying to lookup the student
numbers
from one spreadsheet and populate to the other. I can do it just fine
except
when there are duplicate last names. Does anyone know how to lookup more
than just one column on duplicate last names. Example, Williams (last
name)
tons of them, I need Excel to look at Williams and first name (Jane)
before
returning the student number.

Thanks. SL

You can do it with INDEX/MATCH like so

=INDEX(Sheet2!A1:A1000,MATCH(B1&C1,Sheet2!B1:B1000 &Sheet2!C1:C1000,0))

obviously adjust the ranges to suit your data

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

"SL" wrote in message
...
I am using two spreadsheets. Both spreadsheets have last name and first
names of students from our school. I am trying to lookup the student
numbers
from one spreadsheet and populate to the other. I can do it just fine
except
when there are duplicate last names. Does anyone know how to lookup more
than just one column on duplicate last names. Example, Williams (last
name)
tons of them, I need Excel to look at Williams and first name (Jane)
before
returning the student number.

Thanks. SL

Here's one way, though it's not the best:

=INDEX(Sheet1!A1:C10,MATCH(A1,Sheet1!A1:A10,0)+MAT CH(B1,Sheet1!B1:B10,0)-1,3)

In sheet one:
Last names are in column A
First names are in column B
Student numbers are in column C

In sheet2:
Last name is in A1
First name is in B1
Formula is in C1


...Still working on it. But let me know how that one works for ya.


--
malik641


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I don't know if anyone noticed but that INDEX function:

=INDEX(Sheet1!C1:C10,MATCH(A1&B1,Sheet1!A1:A10&She et1!B1:B10,0))
Entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Actually gives you the student number AFTER the one you want (at least
that's what's happening to me).

It could be corrected by:

=INDEX(Sheet1!C1:C10,MATCH(A1&B1,Sheet1!A1:A10&She et1!B1:B10,0)-1)
Entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter


--
malik641


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Oops! Nevermind, my fault.

Didn't realize I left the Exact match out of the MATCH function in my
spreadsheeet....der

Sorry about that


--
malik641


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Biff,

Thank you for your reply. I tried the index but I got #value! error. In
your example:
lookup table:
column A = last name
Column B = first name
Column C = Student Id

then you used D1 = williams
E1 = Venus
Here is where I was confused. Venus williams say would be the student I am
looking up to find the student id. So my wks#2 has a list of last name and
first name say :
Column A = Last name (ex:williams)
Column B = first name (ex:Venus)

I put the function in wks#2 column C1
=index([wks#1]C1:C100,match(A1&B1,[wk#1]A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

I got a #value!

What went wrong??? Am I messing up the function?

Thanks for your help Biff
SL

"Biff" wrote:

Hi!

Maybe this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A1:A100="last_name"),--(B1:B100="first_name"),C1:C100)

OR....

Redo your lookup table so that the first column includes both
lastname,firstname

OR....

Assume lookup table is such:

Column A = lastname
Column B = firstname
Column C = student number

D1 = Williams
E1 = Venus

=INDEX(C1:C100,MATCH(D1&E1,A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

Array entered using the key combo of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER.

Biff

"SL" wrote in message
...
I am using two spreadsheets. Both spreadsheets have last name and first
names of students from our school. I am trying to lookup the student
numbers
from one spreadsheet and populate to the other. I can do it just fine
except
when there are duplicate last names. Does anyone know how to lookup more
than just one column on duplicate last names. Example, Williams (last
name)
tons of them, I need Excel to look at Williams and first name (Jane)
before
returning the student number.

Thanks. SL

Malik641:

I tried this:
=INDEX([WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$C$424,MATCH(A7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$A$424,0)+MATCH(B7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$B$1:$B$424,0))-13

got an #N/A error--what does that mean? It would not allow me to end my
function in -1,3) like you suggested. It changed it to -13???

the wve1_passwords2 is the lookup table with the lastname (A), firstname
(B), and student ids (C) in it. and the wve1_users is the sheet name.

Thanks for all your help. Any other ideas?? I know it is close but I am
just missing something maybe syntax?

shaunna

"malik641" wrote:


Here's one way, though it's not the best:

=INDEX(Sheet1!A1:C10,MATCH(A1,Sheet1!A1:A10,0)+MAT CH(B1,Sheet1!B1:B10,0)-1,3)

In sheet one:
Last names are in column A
First names are in column B
Student numbers are in column C

In sheet2:
Last name is in A1
First name is in B1
Formula is in C1


...Still working on it. But let me know how that one works for ya.


--
malik641


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Hi!

I put the function in wks#2 column C1
=index([wks#1]C1:C100,match(A1&B1,[wk#1]A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

I got a #value!

Type this formula:

=INDEX(Sheet1!C1:C100,MATCH(A1&B1,Sheet1!A1:A100&S heet1!B1:B100,0))

Replace Sheet1 with your actual sheet name.

Now, when you're done typing the formula INSTEAD of hitting the enter key
hold down the CTRL key and the SHIFT key then hit ENTER. When done properly
Excel will place squiggly braces { } around the formula. The braces denote
an array formula. You cannot just type the braces, you MUST use the key
combo of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER.

Biff

"SL" wrote in message
...
Biff,

Thank you for your reply. I tried the index but I got #value! error. In
your example:
lookup table:
column A = last name
Column B = first name
Column C = Student Id

then you used D1 = williams
E1 = Venus
Here is where I was confused. Venus williams say would be the student I
am
looking up to find the student id. So my wks#2 has a list of last name
and
first name say :
Column A = Last name (ex:williams)
Column B = first name (ex:Venus)

I put the function in wks#2 column C1
=index([wks#1]C1:C100,match(A1&B1,[wk#1]A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

I got a #value!

What went wrong??? Am I messing up the function?

Thanks for your help Biff
SL

"Biff" wrote:

Hi!

Maybe this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A1:A100="last_name"),--(B1:B100="first_name"),C1:C100)

OR....

Redo your lookup table so that the first column includes both
lastname,firstname

OR....

Assume lookup table is such:

Column A = lastname
Column B = firstname
Column C = student number

D1 = Williams
E1 = Venus

=INDEX(C1:C100,MATCH(D1&E1,A1:A100&B1:B100,0))

Array entered using the key combo of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER.

Biff

"SL" wrote in message
...
I am using two spreadsheets. Both spreadsheets have last name and first
names of students from our school. I am trying to lookup the student
numbers
from one spreadsheet and populate to the other. I can do it just fine
except
when there are duplicate last names. Does anyone know how to lookup
more
than just one column on duplicate last names. Example, Williams (last
name)
tons of them, I need Excel to look at Williams and first name (Jane)
before
returning the student number.

Thanks. SL

=INDEX([WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$C$424,MATCH(A7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$A$424,0)+MATCH(B7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$B$1:$B$424,0)-1,3)


"SL" wrote in message
...
Malik641:

I tried this:
=INDEX([WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$C$424,MATCH(A7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$A$424,0)+MATCH(B7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$B$1:$B$424,0))-13

got an #N/A error--what does that mean? It would not allow me to end my
function in -1,3) like you suggested. It changed it to -13???

the wve1_passwords2 is the lookup table with the lastname (A), firstname
(B), and student ids (C) in it. and the wve1_users is the sheet name.

Thanks for all your help. Any other ideas?? I know it is close but I am
just missing something maybe syntax?

shaunna

"malik641" wrote:


Here's one way, though it's not the best:

=INDEX(Sheet1!A1:C10,MATCH(A1,Sheet1!A1:A10,0)+MAT CH(B1,Sheet1!B1:B10,0)-1,3)

In sheet one:
Last names are in column A
First names are in column B
Student numbers are in column C

In sheet2:
Last name is in A1
First name is in B1
Formula is in C1


...Still working on it. But let me know how that one works for ya.


--
malik641


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Dear KK,

Excel accepted the formula you listed below but I get a #N/A. Any possible
problems I can research? What does the 0)-1,3 at the end of the function
mean?

thanks for the help
SL

"kk" wrote:

=INDEX([WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$C$424,MATCH(A7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$A$424,0)+MATCH(B7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$B$1:$B$424,0)-1,3)


"SL" wrote in message
...
Malik641:

I tried this:
=INDEX([WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$C$424,MATCH(A7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$A$1:$A$424,0)+MATCH(B7,[WVE1_passwords2.xls]WVE1_USERS!$B$1:$B$424,0))-13

got an #N/A error--what does that mean? It would not allow me to end my
function in -1,3) like you suggested. It changed it to -13???

the wve1_passwords2 is the lookup table with the lastname (A), firstname
(B), and student ids (C) in it. and the wve1_users is the sheet name.

Thanks for all your help. Any other ideas?? I know it is close but I am
just missing something maybe syntax?

shaunna

"malik641" wrote:


Here's one way, though it's not the best:

=INDEX(Sheet1!A1:C10,MATCH(A1,Sheet1!A1:A10,0)+MAT CH(B1,Sheet1!B1:B10,0)-1,3)

In sheet one:
Last names are in column A
First names are in column B
Student numbers are in column C

In sheet2:
Last name is in A1
First name is in B1
Formula is in C1


...Still working on it. But let me know how that one works for ya.


--
malik641


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Try this:

Add to both spreadsheet a colomn and combine the first and last name
together (=A1&B1). If you need more information just add them to your
combination. You can then use your VLOOKUP again. Works like a charm.


--
Ingrid
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Ingrid,

Thank you for the tip. It did work. One other question. What is the
function to clear all spaces after the name? Example: JamesSarah# (where #
equals space)

SL

"Ingrid" wrote:


Try this:

Add to both spreadsheet a colomn and combine the first and last name
together (=A1&B1). If you need more information just add them to your
combination. You can then use your VLOOKUP again. Works like a charm.


--
Ingrid
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Use the TRIM function. E.g.,

=TRIM(A1)


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com


"SL" wrote in message
...
Ingrid,

Thank you for the tip. It did work. One other question. What
is the
function to clear all spaces after the name? Example:
JamesSarah# (where #
equals space)

SL

"Ingrid" wrote:


Try this:

Add to both spreadsheet a colomn and combine the first and
last name
together (=A1&B1). If you need more information just add them
to your
combination. You can then use your VLOOKUP again. Works like a
charm.


--
Ingrid
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