Buzz
Unsure when to employ the IF function in tandem with VLOOKUP for optimal efficiency? Explore practical examples in this article.
This article provides guidance on three common scenarios for effectively using IF combined with VLOOKUP, complete with specific examples and detailed instructions. Join us on this journey.
The IF Function
The IF function yields a value when the specified condition is TRUE and another value when the condition is FALSE.
Syntax
IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Where:
- logical_test: an expression that can be either TRUE or FALSE.
- value_if_true: the value you want to return if the logical_test argument is TRUE.
- value_if_false: the value you want to return if the logical_test argument is FALSE.
- Explore more about the IF function here.
VLOOKUP Function
The Vlookup function is a value-seeking function by column, used to find a value in the first column from the left of the data table. If found, it returns a value in one of the subsequent columns on the same row as the specified value in the first column.
Syntax:
=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, range_lookup)
- lookup_value: the value used for searching, it could be a string, a reference, or a value from the main table.
- table_array: the reference table or the table containing values to search, the values in the first column of table_array are the ones searched by lookup_value.
- col_index_num: the column index in table_array that will fetch the value returned to the main table.
- range_lookup: a logical value helping you specify whether Vlookup should search exact or approximate.
- Explore more about the Vlookup function here.
Combining IF with VLOOKUP
Here are examples of how to use the IF function in conjunction with VLOOKUP.
Example 1: Suppose you have the following data:
Use the IF function combined with Vlookup to determine the bonus percentage according to the Bonus table.
If an employee in the Northern Region achieves revenue >= 200,000,000, they receive a 10% bonus; otherwise, no bonus (returning 0). If an employee in the Southern Region attains revenue >=220,000,000, they receive a 10% bonus; otherwise, no bonus (returning 0). For an employee in the Central Region, if their revenue >=100,000,000, they receive a 15% bonus; otherwise, it returns 0.
Requirement Analysis
To fulfill the first employee's request, use the IF function to check 'revenue of this employee' with 'corresponding area revenue' in the Bonus table. If the condition is true, return the bonus percentage (column 3 in the Bonus table); otherwise, return '0'.
To meet the IF function's condition, use the Vlookup function to search for 'corresponding area revenue in the Bonus table' and return revenue (column 2) for comparison with the employee's revenue.
To return the bonus %, which is column 3 in the Bonus table, also use the Vlookup function similar to the Vlookup function in the IF function condition. However, the return column in the Vlookup function is column 3.
Implementation Steps:
Start by selecting the first cell in the Bonus % column and input the function:
=IF(D6>=VLOOKUP(C6;$C$17:$E$20;2;0);VLOOKUP(C6;$C$17:$E$20;3;0);'0')
Within the function:
- D6 represents the revenue of the first employee.
- VLOOKUP(C6;$C$17:$E$20;2;0), this vlookup function searches for cell C6 (area of the first employee) in the area column of the Bonus table (C17:E20) and returns column 2 (revenue) in the bonus table. The lookup type in the Vlookup function is an exact match.
Note: Ensure to fix the position of the Bonus table C17:E20 if you intend to copy the formula for subsequent employees. To fix the position, after selecting the Bonus table range C17:E20, press F4 on the keyboard, and the formula will automatically include the absolute reference $C$17:$E$20
- VLOOKUP(C6;$C$17:$E$20;3;0) This function returns the bonus percentage result (column 3) in the Bonus table if the condition in the IF function is true.
- '0' is returned when the condition in the IF function is false, meaning the employee will not receive a bonus.
After entering the IF function, press Enter, and immediately the result will be displayed. For example, this first employee in the Northern Region has revenue less than 200,000,000, so they will not receive a bonus, and the result is 0.
Simply copy the formula down to other cells, and you will obtain the bonus percentage for other employees.
Additionally, you can utilize the IF function to handle errors for the Vlookup function.
Example 2: Suppose you encounter an error like this:
The #N/A error is due to the absence of the lookup_value for the Vlookup function. To avoid this error, you can use the IF function as follows:
=IF(B16='';'';VLOOKUP(B16;B5:D13;3;0))
Cell B16 represents the lookup_value for the Vlookup function. The IF function will check if cell B16 is empty, then it returns an empty value. If B16 has a value, it performs the Vlookup function and returns the search result.
Simply enter the name of the employee you want to search for revenue, and the function will perform the lookup and return the result.
Example 3: An example of using the IF function to customize the reference column position in the VLOOKUP function.
Suppose you have data like this; in cell C15, you have a list with 2 options: Revenue and Region. Use IF and VLOOKUP together to return the correct search result based on the chosen option.
To meet this requirement, you need to understand the following:
The Vlookup function will search for data in cell B16, and in the returned result section of the Vlookup function, use the IF function to customize the column to return.
If cell C15 is Region, the result will return column 2 in the lookup table; otherwise, it will return column 3 (which is Revenue) in the lookup table.
Thus, with the example above, your Vlookup function would be like this:
=VLOOKUP(B16;B5:D13;IF(C15='Region';2;3);0)
To avoid errors like example 2, you can additionally use the IF function to catch errors. In this case, the function becomes:
=IF(B16='';'';VLOOKUP(B16;B5:D13;IF(C15='Region';2;3);0))
The result will be as follows:
When you switch to Revenue, the result will return the revenue of that employee.
Here are three commonly used ways of using the IF function combined with the VLOOKUP function, along with specific examples for easy understanding. Hopefully, through this article, you will gain additional useful knowledge for combining the IF and VLOOKUP functions when needed. Wishing you success!
