Microsoft Excel is the most popular spreadsheet software in the world. It is used to perform calculations, analyze information and manage lists. Excel offers numerous built-in functions to make the program more powerful and easier to use. Lookup functions are used in list management to obtain a specific value from a list based on parameters set by the user. Lookup functions search a list by using two values kept in memory: a lookup value and index number. This tutorial will focus on VLOOKUP, which begins its search of a list by moving vertically down the first column in the list. There is a corresponding function called HLOOKUP, which begins its search by moving horizontally across the first row of the list.

At the end of this tutorial, you will be able to

• Recognize attributes of the Excel VLOOKUP function
• Enter function parameters in the proper order
• Choose appropriate cell ranges to obtain a specific value in a list

Use the navigation bar above to navigate through the tutorial. Start with the Review section to insure basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel, and take the pre-test. After finishing the pre-test move on to VLOOKUP instruction and finish with the post-test. After you have mastered VLOOKUP, take a look at HLOOKUP.