Strange Vlookup Behavior with COLUMNS Function

sayme

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2018
Messages
17
Hi guys,

Got a question about vlookup with columns functions. I use, VLOOKUP($B16,$B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:B)+1,0) and I paste the formula across cells C16 and D16 to return matches of author and price. But when I use B$16 instead of $B16 in the formula, it returns a match in author but not price. If it returns a match in author why cant it return a match in price??



ABCD

<colgroup><col style="width: 25pxpx"><col><col><col><col></colgroup><thead>
</thead><tbody>
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=16365C]#16365C[/URL] , align: center"]Number[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=16365C]#16365C[/URL] "]Book Title[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=16365C]#16365C[/URL] "]Author[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=16365C]#16365C[/URL] "]Price[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]4[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]A Game of Thrones[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]George R.R.[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$19.77[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]5[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Go to Sleep[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Adam Mansbach[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$8.22[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]6[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]A Dance with Dragons[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]George R.R.[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$18.81[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]7[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]4[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]The Hunger Games[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Suzanne Collins[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$4.94[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]8[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]5[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]The Original Argument[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Glenn Beck[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$7.99[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]9[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]6[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Heaven is for Real[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Todd Burpo[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$9.34[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]10[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]7[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Unbroken[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Laura Hillenbrand[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$13.99[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]11[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]8[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Smokin' Seventeen[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Janet Evanovich[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$15.21[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]12[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]9[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]In the Garden of Beasts[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Erik Larson[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$13.78[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]13[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: center"]10[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Catching Fire[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] "]Suzanne Collins[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: [URL=https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=538DD5]#538DD5[/URL] , align: right"]$8.97[/TD]

</tbody>
Sheet2
 

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But when I use B$16 instead of $B16 in the formula, it returns a match in author but not price. If it returns a match in author why cant it return a match in price??
Because when you make that change and then copy the formula from column C to column D it becomes

=VLOOKUP(C$16,$B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:C)+1,0)

This formula is trying to look up what is in column C (the author - returned from the formula in C16) in column B, which contains book titles, not authors.
 
Upvote 0
That is because the $ sign is an absolute reference. Meaning no matter where you put your formula it will always reference to a pecific column or a row. So, $B absolute column and $16 absolute row. So when you use B$16 and drag formula/or copy formula the result for author is correct, but for an amount reference changed to C$16. You want to keep $B16 to keep absolute reference on your column B since it will not change in this case and keep row (16) as is.
 
Upvote 0
Hi,

If you Want to use your VLOOKUP in the manner you described:

Instead of =VLOOKUP($B16,$B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:B)+1,0)

Changed to =VLOOKUP(B$16,$B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:B)+1,0)

Then you would Also need to change $B$4:$D$13 to B$4:$D$13 and COLUMNS($B:B) to COLUMNS($B:$B)

So now the formula will look like =VLOOKUP(B$16,B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:$B)+1,0)

But since COLUMNS($B:$B) is basically a constant of 1, you would No longer need that function,

So the formula can just be =VLOOKUP(B$16,B$4:$D$13,2,0)

Now you can drag Either modified version of your VLOOKUP formula from Column C to Column D and get correct results for Arthur and Price.

See below for comparison, All C Column formulas copied to D:


Book1
ABCD
3NumberBook TitleAuthorPrice
41A Game of ThronesGeorge R.R.$19.77
52Go to SleepAdam Mansbach$8.22
63A Dance with DragonsGeorge R.R.$18.81
74The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins$4.94
85The Original ArgumentGlenn Beck$7.99
96Heaven is for RealTodd Burpo$9.34
107UnbrokenLaura Hillenbrand$13.99
118Smokin' SeventeenJanet Evanovich$15.21
129In the Garden of BeastsErik Larson$13.78
1310Catching FireSuzanne Collins$8.97
14
15
16Go to SleepAdam Mansbach8.22
17Adam Mansbach8.22
18Adam Mansbach8.22
Sheet142
Cell Formulas
RangeFormula
C16=VLOOKUP($B16,$B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:B)+1,0)
C17=VLOOKUP(B$16,B$4:$D$13,COLUMNS($B:$B)+1,0)
C18=VLOOKUP(B$16,B$4:$D$13,2,0)
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Now you can drag Either modified version of your VLOOKUP formula from Column C to Column D and get correct results for Arthur and Price.
I disagree. I have used your two modified formulas in rows 17 & 18 as suggested below, but they do not return the correct results when dragged to column D for price.

(Perhaps I'm not understanding, but I'm not sure why the OP is wanting to change a formula that seems to be doing the job perfectly as it is. :huh:)

Excel Workbook
BCD
3Book TitleAuthorPrice
4A Game of ThronesGeorge R.R.$19.77
5Go to SleepAdam Mansbach$8.22
6A Dance with DragonsGeorge R.R.$18.81
7The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins$4.94
8The Original ArgumentGlenn Beck$7.99
9Heaven is for RealTodd Burpo$9.34
10UnbrokenLaura Hillenbrand$13.99
11Smokin' SeventeenJanet Evanovich$15.21
12In the Garden of BeastsErik Larson$13.78
13Catching FireSuzanne Collins$8.97
14
15
16Catching FireSuzanne Collins8.97
17Suzanne Collins4.94
18Suzanne Collins4.94
Formula
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

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