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- Step 1: Understand the Goal We need to use the Client ID on the first invoice in the Invoice Table to find the matching Client Name in the Client Directory.
- Step 2: Start the Formula Click on the empty cell next to the first invoice. Type: =XLOOKUP(
- Step 3: Select lookup_value For your lookup_value, select the cell containing the Client ID for the first invoice (for example, "CLI-02", it is in cell B11). Then, type a comma. Type: =XLOOKUP(B11, lookup_value Exactly what you want Excel to find.
- Step 4: Select lookup_array For your lookup_array, select the Client ID column in the Client Directory table (A3:A7). Then, type a comma. Type: =XLOOKUP(B11, A3:A7, lookup_array The single column or row where your lookup_value lives.
- Step 5: Select return_array For your return_array, select the Client Name column in the Client Directory table (B3:B7). Type a closing parenthesis ). Type: =XLOOKUP(B11, A3:A7, B3:B7) return_array The single column or row that contains the answer you want.
- Step 6: Check the First Result Press Enter to see the client's name for the first invoice perfectly appear! Result Globex
- Step 7: Lock the Search Areas Before we can copy this formula down to the other invoices, we must lock our search areas so they don't slide down the page. Click on your formula, select A3:A7 and B3:B7, then press F4 on your keyboard to add $ signs. Change This =XLOOKUP(B11, A3:A7, B3:B7) To This =XLOOKUP(B11, $A$3:$A$7, $B$3:$B$7) Hint: Pressing F4 locks the search area so it stays perfectly in place when you drag the formula to the next row!
- Step 8: Copy Down and See the Final Result Double-click the small square in the bottom-right corner of the cell (the fill handle) to copy the formula down. Excel automatically fills in the names for all the other invoices. Result Globex, Acme Corp, Initech
You have a long list of invoices that only show Client IDs. How do you look up the Client Names from a master directory and fill the entire column with the correct names?
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Client Directory | |||
| 2 | Client ID | Client Name | Region | Account Tier |
| 3 | CLI-01 | Acme Corp | East | Gold |
| 4 | CLI-02 | Globex | West | Silver |
| 5 | CLI-03 | Initech | North | Bronze |
| 6 | CLI-04 | Massive Dynamic | South | Platinum |
| 7 | CLI-05 | Soylent | East | Gold |
| 8 | ||||
| 9 | Invoices | |||
| 10 | Invoice # | Client ID | Client Name | |
| 11 | INV-900 | CLI-02 | ||
| 12 | INV-901 | CLI-01 | ||
| 13 | INV-902 | CLI-03 | ||
| 14 | ||||
We need to use the Client ID on the first invoice in the Invoice Table to find the matching Client Name in the Client Directory.
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| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review Completion | ||||||||||
| 2 | Employee | Raw Score | Final Report | ||||||||
| 3 | Rahul | 0.85 | |||||||||
| 4 | Priya | 0.92 | |||||||||
| 5 | Amit | 0.45 | |||||||||
| 6 | Sneha | 1 | |||||||||
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| A | B | C | |
| 1 | Review Completion | ||
| 2 | Employee | Raw Score | Final Report |
| 3 | Rahul | 0.85 | |
| 4 | Priya | 0.92 | |
| 5 | Amit | 0.45 | |
| 6 | Sneha | 1 | |
Build a sentence that reads "Score: 85%" for Rahul, then fill it down so Priya, Amit, and Sneha update on their own.
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Open guideFree practice workbooks
Every lesson comes with an Excel file: blank cells to fill in, and an answer key to check your work.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GL Code | Account Name | Type |
| 2 | 5002 | Operating | |
| 3 | 5005 | Selling | |
| 4 | 5006 | Selling |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product Code | Unit Price |
| 2 | P-001 | |
| 3 | P-005 | |
| 4 | P-011 |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employee ID | Department |
| 2 | E-03 | |
| 3 | E-01 | |
| 4 | E-08 |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weight (kg) | Shipping Cost |
| 2 | 12 | |
| 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 60 |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel | Total Cost |
| 2 | Search | |
| 3 | Social | |
| 4 |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GL Code | Account Name |
| 2 | 5002 | Salaries & Wages |
| 3 | 5005 | Travel & Conveyance |
| 4 | 5006 | Marketing & Advertising |