5 Ways To Excel Lookup First Value

Finding the first occurrence of a value in an Excel spreadsheet can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with large datasets. Fortunately, there are several ways to achieve this using Excel's built-in functions and formulas. In this article, we will explore five different methods to Excel lookup first value, including using the INDEX-MATCH function, VLOOKUP, LOOKUP, FILTER, and XLOOKUP.

Method 1: Using INDEX-MATCH Function

The INDEX-MATCH function is a popular method for looking up values in Excel. This function returns the first occurrence of a value in a specified range.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Assume we have a dataset with names and ages in columns A and B, respectively.

2. We want to find the first occurrence of a person with a specific age.

3. Use the following formula:

   =INDEX(B:B,MATCH(E2,A:A,0))

   Where E2 is the cell containing the age we want to find.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

Example

Suppose we have the following dataset:

Name	Age
John	25
Mary	31
David	25
Emily	35

To find the first occurrence of a person with age 25, we use the formula:

=INDEX(B:B,MATCH(25,A:A,0))

The result will be "John".

Method 2: Using VLOOKUP

VLOOKUP is another function that can be used to find the first occurrence of a value in a dataset.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Assume we have the same dataset as before.

2. We want to find the first occurrence of a person with a specific age.

3. Use the following formula:

   =VLOOKUP(E2,A:B,2,FALSE)

   Where E2 is the cell containing the age we want to find.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

Example

Using the same dataset as before, we can find the first occurrence of a person with age 25 using the formula:

=VLOOKUP(25,A:B,2,FALSE)

The result will be "John".

Method 3: Using LOOKUP

The LOOKUP function is similar to VLOOKUP but returns the first occurrence of a value in a specified range.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Assume we have the same dataset as before.

2. We want to find the first occurrence of a person with a specific age.

3. Use the following formula:

   =LOOKUP(E2,A:B)

   Where E2 is the cell containing the age we want to find.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

Example

Using the same dataset as before, we can find the first occurrence of a person with age 25 using the formula:

=LOOKUP(25,A:B)

The result will be "John".

Method 4: Using FILTER

The FILTER function is a newer function in Excel that can be used to find the first occurrence of a value in a dataset.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Assume we have the same dataset as before.

2. We want to find the first occurrence of a person with a specific age.

3. Use the following formula:

   =FILTER(A:A,B:B=E2)

   Where E2 is the cell containing the age we want to find.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

Example

Using the same dataset as before, we can find the first occurrence of a person with age 25 using the formula:

=FILTER(A:A,B:B=25)

The result will be "John".

Method 5: Using XLOOKUP

The XLOOKUP function is a newer function in Excel that can be used to find the first occurrence of a value in a dataset.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Assume we have the same dataset as before.

2. We want to find the first occurrence of a person with a specific age.

3. Use the following formula:

   =XLOOKUP(E2,B:B,A:A)

   Where E2 is the cell containing the age we want to find.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

Example

Using the same dataset as before, we can find the first occurrence of a person with age 25 using the formula:

=XLOOKUP(25,B:B,A:A)

The result will be "John".

Excel Lookup First Value Image Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which method is the most efficient for finding the first occurrence of a value in a dataset?

   • The most efficient method depends on the size of the dataset and the version of Excel being used. However, the INDEX-MATCH function is generally considered the most efficient method.

2. Can I use these methods to find the last occurrence of a value in a dataset?

   • Yes, you can modify the formulas to find the last occurrence of a value by using the LARGE or SMALL function.

3. Can I use these methods to find the first occurrence of a value in a pivot table?

   • Yes, you can use these methods to find the first occurrence of a value in a pivot table by using the GETPIVOTDATA function.

We hope this article has provided you with the knowledge to Excel lookup first value using different methods. Whether you're using the INDEX-MATCH function, VLOOKUP, LOOKUP, FILTER, or XLOOKUP, you can easily find the first occurrence of a value in your dataset. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

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