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# XL97: Range_Lookup Argument in VLOOKUP() Finds Exact Match

Article ID: 108639

Article Last Modified on 7/18/2007

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 5.0c
- Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Excel 5.0a for Macintosh
- Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q108639

## SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later, the VLOOKUP() and HLOOKUP() functions contain an argument called range_lookup. The syntax of these functions are different than in earlier versions and are defined as follows

       =VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)

       =HLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,row_index_num,range_lookup)

## MORE INFORMATION

### VLOOKUP()

The following table outlines the definition for each argument in the VLOOKUP() function:

       Argument     Definition of argument
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------

       lookup_value The value to be found in the first column of the array.

       table_array  The table of information in which data is looked up.

       col_index    The column number in the table_array for which the
                    matching value should be returned.

       range_lookup This is a new argument used in Microsoft Excel versions
                    5.0 and later. It is a logical value that specifies whether
                    you want to find an exact match or an approximate match.
                    If TRUE or omitted, an approximate match is returned; in
                    other words, if an exact match is not found, the next
                    largest value that is less than the lookup_value is
                    returned. If FALSE, VLOOKUP() will find an exact match.
                    If an exact match is not found, the #N/A error value is
                    returned.

NOTE: If range_lookup is TRUE or omitted (that is, an approximate match), the values in the first column of table_array must be sorted in ascending order. If range_lookup is FALSE (that is, an exact match), the table_array does not need to be sorted.

### HLOOKUP()

The following table outlines the definition for each argument in the HLOOKUP() function:

       Argument     Definition of argument
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------

       lookup_value The value to be found in the first row of the array.

       table_array  The table of information in which data is looked up.

       row_index    The row number in the table_array for which the
                    matching value should be returned.

       range_lookup This is a new argument used in Microsoft Excel versions
                    5.0 and later. It is a logical value that specifies whether
                    you want to find an exact match or an approximate match.
                    If TRUE or omitted, an approximate match is returned; in
                    other words, if an exact match is not found, the next
                    largest value that is less than the lookup_value is
                    returned. If FALSE, VLOOKUP() will find an exact match.
                    If an exact match is not found, the #N/A error value is
                    returned.

NOTE: If range_lookup is TRUE or omitted (that is, an approximate match), the values in the first row of table_array must be sorted in ascending order. If range_lookup is FALSE (that is, an exact match), the table_array does not need to be sorted.
In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, the INDEX() and MATCH() functions must be used to find an exact match in the table_array.

## REFERENCES

For more information about Lookup Functions in Excel 97, click the Office Assistant, type "vlookup," click Search, and then click to view "VLOOKUP."
NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Or, in earlier versions, click the Search button in Help and type:

       compare lookup return

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 8.00 XL97 vba

Keywords: kbdtacode kbhowto KB108639