Using the VLOOKUP Function

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 124 views

Introduction

Google Sheets is a powerful tool for data analysis and manipulation. One of its key features is the ability to create dynamic formulas that change based on the value in a different cell. In this article, we will explore how to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, using various Google Sheets functions such as IF, VLOOKUP, ARRAYFORMULA, and Google Sheets Query.

Understanding the Problem

You have a dropdown list in column D, and based on the value selected in column D, you want to return different values in column E. You have already implemented this functionality using the IF function, and it is working properly. However, you want to take it to the next level by changing the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

Using the IF Function

The IF function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if the condition is false. You can use the IF function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

For example, let's say you have a dropdown list in column D with the following values:

D
Apple
Banana
Orange

And you want to return different values in column E based on the value selected in column D. You can use the following formula in column E:

=IF(D2="Apple", "You selected an Apple", IF(D2="Banana", "You selected a Banana", "You selected an Orange"))

This formula will return "You selected an Apple" if the value in cell D2 is "Apple", "You selected a Banana" if the value in cell D2 is "Banana", and "You selected an Orange" if the value in cell D2 is "Orange".

Using the VLOOKUP Function

The VLOOKUP function is another powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. You can use the VLOOKUP function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

For example, let's say you have a table with the following values:

A	B
Apple	10
Banana	20
Orange	30

And you want to return the value in column B based on the value in column A. You can use the following formula in column E:

=VLOOKUP(D2, A:B, 2, FALSE)

This formula will return the value in column B that corresponds to the value in cell D2.

Using the ARRAYFORMULA Function

The ARRAYFORMULA function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to perform operations on arrays of values. You can use the ARRAYFORMULA function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

For example, let's say you have a dropdown list in column D with the following values:

D
Apple
Banana
Orange

And you want to return different values in column E based on the value selected in column D. You can use the following formula in column E:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(D2:D="Apple", "You selected an Apple", IF(D2:D="Banana", "You selected a Banana", "You selected an Orange")))

Using the Google Sheets Query Function

The Google Sheets Query function is a powerful tool that allows you to perform complex queries on data. You can use the Google Sheets Query function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

For example, let's say you have a table with the following values:

A	B
Apple	10
Banana	20
Orange	30

And you want to return the value in column B based on the value in column A. You can use the following formula in column E:

=QUERY(A:B, "SELECT B WHERE A = '" & D2 & "'")

This formula will return the value in column B that corresponds to the value in cell D2.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell using various Google Sheets functions such as IF, VLOOKUP, ARRAYFORMULA, and Google Sheets Query. We have also provided examples of how to use these functions to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell.

Best Practices

When using these functions to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, keep the following best practices in mind:

Use the IF function to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if the condition is false.
Use the VLOOKUP function to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column.
Use the ARRAYFORMULA function to perform operations on arrays of values.
Use the Google Sheets Query function to perform complex queries on data.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell using various Google Sheets functions such as IF, VLOOKUP, ARRAYFORMULA, and Google Sheets Query. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to this topic.

Q: How do I use the IF function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell?

A: The IF function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if the condition is false. To use the IF function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, you can use the following formula:

=IF(D2="Apple", "You selected an Apple", IF(D2="Banana", "You selected a Banana", "You selected an Orange"))

Q: How do I use the VLOOKUP function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell?

A: The VLOOKUP function is another powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from another column. To use the VLOOKUP function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, you can use the following formula:

=VLOOKUP(D2, A:B, 2, FALSE)

This formula will return the value in column B that corresponds to the value in cell D2.

Q: How do I use the ARRAYFORMULA function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell?

A: The ARRAYFORMULA function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to perform operations on arrays of values. To use the ARRAYFORMULA function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, you can use the following formula:

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(D2:D="Apple", "You selected an Apple", IF(D2:D="Banana", "You selected a Banana", "You selected an Orange")))

Q: How do I use the Google Sheets Query function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell?

A: The Google Sheets Query function is a powerful tool that allows you to perform complex queries on data. To use the Google Sheets Query function to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell, you can use the following formula:

=QUERY(A:B, "SELECT B WHERE A = '" & D2 & "'")

This formula will return the value in column B that corresponds to the value in cell D2.

Q: What are some common errors that I might encounter when using these functions to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell?

A: Some common errors that you might encounter when using these functions to change the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell include:

#N/A: This error occurs when the VLOOKUP function is unable to find a match in the table.
#REF!: This error occurs when the formula references a cell that does not exist.
#VALUE!: This error occurs when the formula contains an error, such as a non-numeric value.

Q: How can I troubleshoot these errors?

A: To troubleshoot these errors, you can try the following:

Check the formula: Make sure that the formula is correct and that it is referencing the correct cells.
Check the data: Make sure that the data in the table is correct and that it is in the correct format.
Use the error handling functions: You can use the error handling functions, such as IFERROR and IFNA, to handle errors and return a default value.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions related to changing the formula of one cell based on the value in a different cell using various Google Sheets functions such as IF, VLOOKUP, ARRAYFORMULA, and Google Sheets Query. We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions and providing you with the information you need to use these functions effectively.