VLOOKUP Function Cannot Return Values to Left of Data (118306)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 7.0a
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0a
- Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 4.0
This article was previously published under Q118306 SYMPTOMS
Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0 Help and page 450 of the "Function
Reference," version 4.0, specify that you should "use VLOOKUP() instead of
HLOOKUP() when your comparison values are located in a column to the left
or right of the data you want to find."
MORE INFORMATION
This information is not entirely correct: VLOOKUP() searches the leftmost
column of the array and cannot return a value to the left of the found data
(returning the value to the left would require that the column index
argument be negative, and the column index argument must be a positive
number). VLOOKUP() can return a value only from a column to the right of
the leftmost column.
NOTE: The Help files included with Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel
98 Macintosh Edition contain the correct information.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 8/15/2003 |
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| Keywords: | KB118306 |
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