You enter the same arguments, but it searches in rows instead of columns. When you're comfortable with VLOOKUP, the HLOOKUP function is equally easy to use. If it didn't, you'd have to enter one of the values in columns C or D to get a result at all. The fourth argument is empty, so the function returns an approximate match. When you enter a value in cell B2 (the first argument), VLOOKUP searches the cells in the range C2:E7 (2nd argument) and returns the closest approximate match from the third column in the range, column E (3rd argument). This example shows you how the function works. In other words, leaving the fourth argument blank-or entering TRUE-gives you more flexibility.

If you enter FALSE, the function will match the value provide by the first argument. If you enter TRUE, or leave the argument blank, the function returns an approximate match of the value you specify in the first argument. The third argument is the column in that range of cells that contains the value that you seek. The second argument is the range of cells, C2-:E7, in which to search for the value you want to find. This argument can be a cell reference, or a fixed value such as 'smith' or 21,000. For VLOOKUP, this first argument is the value that you want to find. In this example, B2 is the first argument-an element of data that the function needs to work. Note: The Lookup Wizard feature is no longer available in Excel.

Excel search cell containing text