Intro
Discover the power of VLOOKUP with partial matches. Learn 3 expert-approved ways to excel in partial matching, including using wildcards, fuzzy lookup, and approximate matching techniques. Mastering VLOOKUP partial match will revolutionize your data analysis and lookup skills. Get step-by-step instructions and examples to boost your Excel productivity.
The Excel VLOOKUP function is a powerful tool for searching and retrieving data from a table or range. However, one of its limitations is that it requires an exact match between the search value and the values in the lookup table. In many cases, users need to perform a partial match, where the search value is a part of the value in the lookup table. Fortunately, there are several ways to achieve this in Excel.
In this article, we will explore three methods to perform an Excel VLOOKUP partial match: using the VLOOKUP function with the * wildcard, using the INDEX-MATCH function combination, and using the FILTER function.
Method 1: Using VLOOKUP with the * Wildcard
The VLOOKUP function allows you to use the * wildcard to perform a partial match. To do this, you need to add the * symbol to the search value, like this: search_value*. This tells Excel to look for values that start with the search value.
Example 1: VLOOKUP with `*` Wildcard
Suppose we have a table with the following data:
| Employee ID | Name | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | John Smith | Sales |
| 102 | Jane Doe | Marketing |
| 103 | Bob Johnson | Sales |
We want to find the department of an employee whose name starts with "J". We can use the VLOOKUP function with the * wildcard like this:
=VLOOKUP("J*",A2:C4,3,FALSE)
In this formula, A2:C4 is the range of the lookup table, 3 is the column index of the department column, and FALSE tells Excel to perform an exact match. The * wildcard is added to the search value "J" to perform a partial match.
Method 2: Using INDEX-MATCH Function Combination
The INDEX-MATCH function combination is a more flexible and powerful alternative to the VLOOKUP function. It allows you to perform a partial match using the MATCH function.
Example 2: INDEX-MATCH with Partial Match
Using the same data as before, we can use the INDEX-MATCH function combination to find the department of an employee whose name starts with "J". We can use the following formula:
=INDEX(C2:C4,MATCH(TRUE,IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("J*",A2:A4)),1,0),0))
In this formula, C2:C4 is the range of the department column, A2:A4 is the range of the employee name column, and "J*" is the search value with the * wildcard. The SEARCH function is used to perform a partial match, and the MATCH function returns the relative position of the first match.
Method 3: Using the FILTER Function
The FILTER function is a new function introduced in Excel 2019 and later versions. It allows you to filter a range of data based on a condition.
Example 3: FILTER Function with Partial Match
Using the same data as before, we can use the FILTER function to find the department of an employee whose name starts with "J". We can use the following formula:
=FILTER(C2:C4,LEFT(A2:A4,1)="J")
In this formula, C2:C4 is the range of the department column, A2:A4 is the range of the employee name column, and "J" is the search value. The LEFT function is used to extract the first character of the employee name, and the FILTER function returns the values in the department column that match the condition.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored three methods to perform an Excel VLOOKUP partial match: using the VLOOKUP function with the * wildcard, using the INDEX-MATCH function combination, and using the FILTER function. Each method has its own advantages and limitations, and the choice of method depends on the specific requirements of your data analysis task.
We hope this article has been helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills to perform an Excel VLOOKUP partial match. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.
Gallery of Excel VLOOKUP Partial Match
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FAQ
Q: What is the difference between the VLOOKUP function and the INDEX-MATCH function combination? A: The VLOOKUP function is a built-in function in Excel that allows you to search for a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. The INDEX-MATCH function combination is a more flexible and powerful alternative to the VLOOKUP function that allows you to perform a partial match.
Q: How do I use the * wildcard in the VLOOKUP function?
A: To use the * wildcard in the VLOOKUP function, you need to add the * symbol to the search value, like this: search_value*. This tells Excel to look for values that start with the search value.
Q: What is the FILTER function and how do I use it? A: The FILTER function is a new function introduced in Excel 2019 and later versions that allows you to filter a range of data based on a condition. To use the FILTER function, you need to specify the range of data, the condition, and the values to return.