Question 1

How does the VLOOKUP Generator work?

Accepted Answer

Simply describe what you want to look up in plain English. For example: "Find the price in column D based on the product code in column A". Our AI analyzes your description and generates the correct VLOOKUP formula that you can copy and paste directly into Excel.

Question 2

Is this VLOOKUP Generator free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this tool is completely free with no signup required. You can generate as many VLOOKUP formulas as you need without any limitations.

Question 3

Do the generated formulas work in all Excel versions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, VLOOKUP is a standard Excel function available in all versions including Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. The generated formulas are compatible with all these versions.

Question 4

Is my data secure when using this generator?

Accepted Answer

We only process the description you provide to generate the formula. Your actual spreadsheet data is never uploaded or accessed. The description is processed securely and not stored.

Question 5

What is the difference between VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP?

Accepted Answer

VLOOKUP only searches to the right and requires the lookup column to be first. XLOOKUP (Excel 365/2021+) can search in any direction and is more flexible. If you need XLOOKUP, try our Excel Formula Generator which supports all functions.

Question 6

How do I fix the #N/A error in VLOOKUP?

Accepted Answer

The #N/A error means the lookup value was not found. Common causes: 1) Extra spaces in data (use TRIM), 2) Different data types (text vs number), 3) Typos in the lookup value. Use IFERROR to handle this: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(...), "Not found")

Question 7

What does the FALSE/0 at the end of VLOOKUP mean?

Accepted Answer

The last parameter (FALSE or 0) specifies exact match - the lookup value must match exactly. TRUE or 1 means approximate match, used for ranges (like tax brackets). Always use FALSE/0 unless you specifically need range matching.

Question 8

What are the limitations of VLOOKUP?

Accepted Answer

VLOOKUP limitations: 1) Can only search left-to-right, 2) Returns only one value, 3) Lookup column must be first in the range, 4) Slower on large datasets. For more flexibility, consider INDEX/MATCH or XLOOKUP.

Question 9

When should I use INDEX/MATCH instead of VLOOKUP?

Accepted Answer

Use INDEX/MATCH when: 1) Your lookup column is not the first column, 2) You need to look up to the left, 3) You want better performance on large datasets, 4) You need more flexibility with dynamic ranges.

Question 10

Can I use wildcards with VLOOKUP?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Use * for any number of characters and ? for a single character. Example: =VLOOKUP("*Smith", A:B, 2, FALSE) finds any name ending with "Smith". Note: wildcards only work with exact match (FALSE).

Question 11

Does VLOOKUP slow down Excel?

Accepted Answer

VLOOKUP can slow down large workbooks, especially with entire column references (A:A). Tips: 1) Use specific ranges instead of entire columns, 2) Sort your data and use TRUE for approximate match, 3) Consider XLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH for better performance.

Question 12

Can I use VLOOKUP across multiple sheets?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Reference another sheet by including the sheet name: =VLOOKUP(A1, Sheet2!A:D, 4, FALSE). For sheets with spaces in the name, use single quotes: =VLOOKUP(A1, 'Price List'!A:D, 4, FALSE)

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