Can you do a case-sensitive VLOOKUP?

By default, the VLOOKUP function performs a case-insensitive lookup. However, you can use INDEX, MATCH and EXACT in Excel to perform a case-sensitive lookup. The EXACT function in Excel returns TRUE if two strings are exactly the same.

How do I get VLOOKUP to return exact match?

In its simplest form, the VLOOKUP function says: =VLOOKUP(What you want to look up, where you want to look for it, the column number in the range containing the value to return, return an Approximate or Exact match – indicated as 1/TRUE, or 0/FALSE).

Does VLOOKUP do an exact match?

VLOOKUP is an Excel function to look up data in a table organized vertically. VLOOKUP supports approximate and exact matching, and wildcards (* ?) for partial matches. Lookup values must appear in the first column of the table passed into VLOOKUP. The matched value from a table.

Why is my VLOOKUP match not working?

When the range_lookup argument is FALSE—and VLOOKUP is unable to find an exact match in your data—it returns the #N/A error. Also, ensure that the cells follow the correct data type. For example, cells with numbers should be formatted as Number, and not Text.

Why is my VLOOKUP returning the wrong value?

VLOOKUP returning incorrect results If you omit to supply match type in a range_lookup argument of VLOOKUP then by default it searches for approximate match values, if it does not find exact match value. And if table_array is not sorted in ascending order by the first column, then VLOOKUP returns incorrect results.

Does capitalization matter for VLOOKUP?

Right, it’s VLOOKUP. However, very few people are aware that Excel’s VLOOKUP is case-insensitive, meaning it treats lowercase and UPPERCASE letters as the same characters.

Why would you use VLOOKUP instead of Xlookup?

XLOOKUP requires referencing fewer cells. VLOOKUP required you to input an entire data set, but XLOOKUP only requires you to reference the relevant columns or rows. By referencing fewer cells, the XLOOKUP will increase your spreadsheet calculation speed and potentially result in fewer circular reference errors.

What is a Xlookup?

The XLOOKUP function searches a range or an array, and then returns the item corresponding to the first match it finds. If no match exists, then XLOOKUP can return the closest (approximate) match.

What does the true or false mean in VLOOKUP?

A parameter of FALSE means that VLOOKUP is looking for an EXACT match for the value of 10251. A parameter of TRUE means that a “close” match will be returned. Since the VLOOKUP is able to find the value of 10251 in the range A1:A6, it returns the corresponding value from B1:B6 which is Pears.

Can you do a case sensitive match in VLOOKUP?

Case-sensitive lookup. By default, standard lookups with VLOOKUP or INDEX + MATCH aren’t case-sensitive. Both VLOOKUP and MATCH will simply return the first match, ignoring case. However, if you need to do a case-sensitive lookup, you can do so with an array formula that uses INDEX, MATCH, and the EXACT function.

Is there a case sensitive lookup in Excel?

The Blog entry Case Sensitive Lookup in Excel claims to have a solution to this problem using the INDEX and MATCH functions (original info courtesy a post by Peo Sjoblom). There are some alternatives in the comments too.

How to do a match lookup in VLOOKUP?

By default, standard lookups with VLOOKUP or INDEX + MATCH aren’t case-sensitive. Both VLOOKUP and MATCH will simply return the first match, ignoring case.

How to do an exact match lookup in Excel?

However, if you need to do a case-sensitive lookup, you can do so with an array formula that uses INDEX, MATCH, and the EXACT function. This formula is an array formula and must be entered with Control + Shift + Enter. Since MATCH alone isn’t case sensitive, we need a way to get Excel to compare case.