VLOOKUP Alternative

Is there an alternative, other than creating helper columns, to using VLOOKUP to gather data to the left of a referenced column? A more efficient function?

Have a look at index, Match
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addi...ction-vlookup/

INDEX MATCH is my preferred matching formula (for left to right, right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top matching).

For example,

=VLOOKUP(A2,C:F,3,FALSE)

is the same as

=INDEX(F:F,MATCH(A2,C:C,0))

Thanks much! I kinda figured that, but wasn't sure if there was a work-around to the VLOOKUP and it's rules.

Thanks! Still learning how to use the INDEX and MATCH functions after using VLOOKUP for so long. Appreciate the example, that helps a lot to clear this old man's mind!

Glad we could help. Thanks for the rep!

Once I started using INDEX MATCH, I never went back. It is a powerful formula that you can do much more with than VLOOKUP.