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October 4, 2012 Leave a Comment

How to Correct #N/A Error Messages for Excel’s VLOOKUP Function

Fix the #N/A Error Message

A colleague of mine – who is an experienced Excel user – cannot figure out why he is receiving those ugly #N/A Error Messages when he is using the VLOOKUP Function in Excel.

After a quick look at his workbook, I spotted the problem!

Use the TRIM() Function to Remove Extra Spaces

It turns out, that the data source – housed on the company’s Main Frame Computer – is using “Fixed Width” Fields. So, while only 7 characters are visible, I used the LEN() Function to determine that the field was actually storing 12 characters.

The #N/A Error Message for VLOOKUP()

The #N/A Error Message appears when a Match cannot be found for the Lookup Value in the Left-most Column of the Table_Array when using VLOOKUP(). In this case, my viewer was trying to match a lookup value that contains 7 characters to a value in a field formatted to contain 12 characters. This is what produced the #N/A Error!

Paste Special Values

The final step to correct this problem is to use Copy – Paste Special – Values to replace the Formulas with the values of those formulas.

Essential Excel Skills

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010 Video Tutorial

In this video, I cover three Essential Excel Skills:

  1. Essential Functions – VLOOKUP()
  2. Text Functions – LEN() and TRIM()
  3. Paste Special Options

I cover each of these skills – and more – in greater detail on my new 4-Hour Video Training Resource, “Nine Essential Skills for Excel.”” Click on the links below to learn more about:

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Follow this link to watch my Excel tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

How to Correct #N/A Error Messages for Excel's VLOOKUP Function [ 6:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7514)
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Filed Under: Excel Basics, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Import Data into Excel, Lookup Functions in Excel, Text Functions Tagged: , , , , , , ,
September 24, 2012 1 Comment

How to Use Lookup Functions in Excel – Take a Free Lesson from My Latest Video Training Resource

Video Lesson - Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

Video Lesson – Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

I have just published the Excel 2007 version of my latest video training resource, “Nine Essential Excel Skills.” And, I want to offer you the opportunity to watch a complete episode. This is one of the 25 video tutorials included on my video training resource. The complete package contains almost four-hours of focused Excel 2007 Training.

Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

Watch this complete 11 minutes and 30 second lesson, as I demonstrate how to use both the VLOOKUP() and HLOOKUP() Functions in Excel. I demonstrate how to return an “exact” match as well as how to return an “approximate” match. I use “plain language” to describe how to use Lookup Functions.

Learn More About My Video Training Resources

Here are the links to the specific product information pages for my latest video training resources:

Download My Step-by-Step Instructional Guide – for Free!

You can download a PDF of my Step-by-Step Instructional Guide for the “9 Essential Excel 2007 Skills” video training resource. I am offering this for free so that you can see the scope and detail of the training that I offer on my 4-hour video. Click on this link to begin the downloading process for my free Instructional Guide.

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Follow this link to watch my Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Watch Tutorial Now

 

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Filed Under: Excel Basics, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Lookup Functions in Excel, MS Excel 2007 DVD, Names for Cells and Ranges, Training Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
August 13, 2012 3 Comments

How to Combine 2 Excel Workbooks Using VLOOKUP Function

VLOOKUP Function Arguments

VLOOKUP Function Arguments

I created this video tutorial to assist one of my viewers. He had 2 Excel Workbooks that he needed to combine. Because he had a MemberID Field in each workbook, I decided that the VLOOKUP() Function would be the fastest way to complete this task for my viewer.

Tips Covered in this Video

  • Move or Copy a Worksheet to another Excel Workbook
  • Use a Mixed Cell Reference – e.g. $A4 – so that column “A” reference is “frozen” when copying formula
  • Create “Named Range” to use as the “Table_Array” argument in VLOOKUP
  • Use FALSE as 4th (optional) argument in VLOOKUP to produce an “exact match”
  • Use IFERROR to prevent “error messages” from displaying

Watch this Video in High Definition

Click on this link to watch this Excel Tutorial  in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Learn About My Training Resources

I invite you to visit my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to learn about the many training resources that I offer for sale.

Watch Tutorial Now

 

 

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Filed Under: Excel Functions, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
December 2, 2011 Leave a Comment

How to Return Either an Approximate or Exact Match for VLOOKUP Function

Matches with VLOOKUP

Matches with VLOOKUP

One of my viewers asked me to explain – with examples – how and when to choose either an Approximate or an Exact Match using the VLOOKUP Function in Excel. .

Approximate Match for VLOOKUP

The Approximate Match is the Default setting for Vlookup. This means that you can either omit the 4th, optional, argument or use the word TRUE. However, as you will see in this video tutorial, there are other considerations to consider in order to get the correct result that you are looking for.

Exact Match for VLOOKUP

In the example that I use on the Video Tutorial, I am setting up an Employee Payroll worksheet. I definitely want to have an Exact Match for each employee to ensure that they are getting the correct amount of compensation for the hours that they worked during this period. Watch the tutorial to see how I set this up.

Watch Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to watch this Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Get More Excel Tips

I invite you to visit my online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to preview the many resources that I offer. Here is the link to go directly to the information page for my DVD-ROM, “The 50 Best TIps for Excel 2007.”

 

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