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kwahl1's avatar
kwahl1
Copper Contributor
Mar 14, 2025
Solved

Using VLOOKUP over multiple columns

Pardon me if I posted this earlier.  I didn't see my questions when I later returned so here it goes again.  Using Microsoft 365 personal, Excel on a MacBook. I have a basis understanding what VLOOKUP is doing after countless videos. I have a roster of members (name, address, phone, emails, lodge). I got the VLOOKUP to work with the names, addresses and phone number (Columns C thru G), displaying in a new worksheet perfect. After the phone number column G, there are columns for other things ie $, parking, etc.  Then in the last two columns (Q & R) I'd like some more member's information from that previous VLOOKUP. These would be columns 16 and 17. Cut and pasted the first formula. I changed the =VLOOKUP formula to reflect column 16 and 17 and I get the #REF! error message. It's sort of a auto populate problem, there I'd like to avoid typing info in columns Q and R. I'd really like someone to go live with me on this spreadsheet, where I could observe on my screen, if that is possible. Data is all fake. HELP

  • Perhaps you simply need to expand the lookup range.

    For example, if your formula now looks like this:

    =VLOOKUP(A2, 'Roster Sheet'!$A$2:$G$1000, 16, FALSE)

    change that to

    =VLOOKUP(A2, 'Roster Sheet'!$A$2:$Z$1000, 16, FALSE)

    You'll have to modify this for your setup.

    If this doesn't help:

    Could you attach a small sample workbook demonstrating the problem (without sensitive data), or if that is not possible, make it available through OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar?

    • kwahl1's avatar
      kwahl1
      Copper Contributor

      Great job! Let me run it by the Registrar who will b receiving information and inputing the various fields. I'm just assisting.

      If we decide to add a column, say in the tan area, like "Guest", will the formula need to be updated in Q and R  =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(B3,Table_2,7,FALSE)&"", "") and =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(B3,Table_2,8,FALSE)&"", "") because of inserting columns?  Also noticed you used Table_2 in the formula, not the tab name. I guess it works OK that way.

      Ken

      • I only now got notified of your reply.

        > will the formula need to be updated?

        No, probably not.

  • Perhaps you simply need to expand the lookup range.

    For example, if your formula now looks like this:

    =VLOOKUP(A2, 'Roster Sheet'!$A$2:$G$1000, 16, FALSE)

    change that to

    =VLOOKUP(A2, 'Roster Sheet'!$A$2:$Z$1000, 16, FALSE)

    You'll have to modify this for your setup.

    If this doesn't help:

    Could you attach a small sample workbook demonstrating the problem (without sensitive data), or if that is not possible, make it available through OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar?

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