Forum Discussion
spill error in excel vlook formula
how to resolve the spill error in excel vlook formula
mayakannanr How exactly have you constructed your VLOOKUP formula? In some cases you can only fix it by correcting the formula. In other cases you need to make sure that there is space for Excel to spill the results ( as suggested by rachel ).
And since you get the SPILL error it means you are using a modern Excel version. Perhaps better to acquaint yourself with XLOOKUP.
No need for an update, using Ctrl-Shift-Enter or any of the other suggestions by Saima14. I suspect that they come directly from an AI robot. As such, they are neither relevant nor meaningful.
- I think you just need to make sure you have enough empty cells to accommodate the results returned by the formula.
- If you're encountering a spill error in an Excel VLOOKUP formula, it might be due to a recent update in Excel's calculation engine. The spill error typically occurs when the formula spills over multiple cells, and Excel is unable to handle it as expected.
To resolve this, you can consider the following steps:
Update Excel:
Ensure that you are using the latest version of Microsoft Excel. Microsoft often releases updates that address bugs and improve formula functionality.
Check for Array Formulas:
If you are using the new spill feature (dynamic arrays) unintentionally, you might want to convert your formula to an array formula. You can do this by selecting the cell, pressing F2 to edit the formula, and then confirming it with Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of just Enter.
Verify Data Range:
Double-check the range of your VLOOKUP function. It should cover the entire range of your lookup table, and the formula should be entered in a single cell.
Use Named Ranges:
Consider using named ranges for your lookup tables. This can make your formulas more readable and help avoid potential errors.
Update Function Arguments:
Ensure that you are providing the correct arguments for your VLOOKUP formula, including the lookup value, table array, column index, and the range lookup.
Use INDEX and MATCH:
As an alternative, you can use the INDEX and MATCH combination instead of VLOOKUP. This can sometimes resolve spill errors and provide more flexibility.
=INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))
Remember that these suggestions are general, and the specific solution might depend on the context of your VLOOKUP formula and the structure of your data. If the issue persists, providing more details about your formula and dataset could help in offering a more tailored solution. I had this issue and it turns out I had inadvertently put the lookup value/lookup array in the wrong order.
So wanted to lookup my TRADER in the range tblTraderLkUp and return the value from the third column.
I entered this (incorrectly):
=VLOOKUP(tblTraderLkUp,[@Trader],3,FALSE)
When I should have entered:
=VLOOKUP([@Trader],tblTraderLkUp,3,FALSE)
Doing this in Excel 2019 (ie putting the params in the wrong order) returns #VALUE! which makes the mistake more obvious.
