Lookup Functions Cheat Sheet
Lookup Functions Cheat Sheet
Got it 👍
Here’s a cheat sheet of Excel Lookup Functions with syntax, use, and examples —
covering old + new Excel functions:
column value.
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Use: Searches for a value in the first row and returns a value from a specified
row.
Example:
=HLOOKUP("Math", A1:H5, 3, FALSE) → Finds "Math" in row 1, returns 3rd row
value.
[match_mode], [search_mode])
5. INDEX
Syntax:
INDEX(array, row_num, [col_num])
6. MATCH
Syntax:
MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type])
Use: Returns the position of a value in a range (not the value itself).
1 = less than or equal, 0 = exact match, -1 = greater than or equal.
Example:
=MATCH(40, {10,20,30,40,50}, 0) → returns 4
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7. INDEX + MATCH (Flexible Alternative to VLOOKUP)
Use: INDEX returns the value, MATCH finds the position.
Example:
=INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(101, A2:A10, 0))
8. CHOOSE
Syntax:
CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], …)
= "HR".
FIND Syntax:
FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num]) → Case-sensitive.
Example:
=SEARCH("cat","Concatenate") → returns 4 (position of "cat")
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VLOOKUP / HLOOKUP → Lookup vertically/horizontally.
XLOOKUP → Modern, flexible lookup (can replace VLOOKUP & HLOOKUP).
INDEX + MATCH → More powerful & flexible than VLOOKUP.
CHOOSE → Pick from a list.
FILTER → Extract matching rows.
SEARCH / FIND → Find text position in strings.
You have:
A frequency distribution table with class intervals like 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, …
Grades assigned to each interval (say: 10–20 → F, 20–30 → E, … up to A).
Someone scores 46 and you need to find the grade.
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10–20 → F
20–30 → E
30–40 → D
40–50 → C
50–60 → B
60–70 → A
Since 46 ∈ (40–50) → Grade = C.
✅ Answer: The person who scored 46 gets the grade corresponding to the 40–50
interval (C, in this example).
⚠️ One subtlety: If the table was cumulative frequency distribution and not a direct
“interval-to-grade” mapping, then you’d first compute the percentile rank of 46 and
then map that percentile to grades (say, top 10% = A, next 20% = B, etc.).
👉 Can you confirm — is your table a direct class interval-to-grade mapping (like
marks → grades), or a frequency distribution table where grades are based on
relative standing (percentiles)?
in excel
Ah! You want to calculate the grade in Excel based on a score and a
frequency/grade table. Here’s how you can do it step by step.
0 10 F
10 20 E
20 30 D
30 40 C
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MinScore MaxScore Grade
40 50 B
50 60 A
0 F
10 E
20 D
30 C
40 B
50 A
excel
Explanation:
G2 → the score (46)
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excel
excel
=IF(G2<10,"F",IF(G2<20,"E",IF(G2<30,"D",IF(G2<40,"C",IF(G2<50,"B","A"))))))
✅ Best practice: Use VLOOKUP with approximate match or LOOKUP for clean,
scalable grading.
If you want, I can make a ready-to-paste Excel formula that will automatically
calculate the grade for any score and any table without restructuring the table.
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Example:
=IF(A1>=50,"Pass","Fail") → If A1 ≥ 50 → "Pass", else "Fail"
2. IFERROR
Syntax:
IFERROR(value, value_if_error)
#DIV/0!
Use: Checks multiple conditions in order, returns the value of the first TRUE
condition.
Example:
=IFS(A1>=90,"A",A1>=80,"B",A1>=70,"C",A1>=60,"D",TRUE,"F")
5. COUNTIF
Syntax:
COUNTIF(range, criteria)
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Example:
=COUNTIF(B2:B10,">50") → Counts cells in B2:B10 > 50
B="Pass"
7. SUMIF
Syntax:
SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])
criteria2], …)
B="Pass"
9. AVERAGEIF
Syntax:
AVERAGEIF(range, criteria, [average_range])
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Example:
=AVERAGEIF(A2:A10,">50",B2:B10) → Average B where A>50
criteria2], …)
AND B="Pass"
A>50
✅ Quick Notes
Use IF / IFS / SWITCH → for decision-making logic.
Use COUNTIF(S), SUMIF(S), AVERAGEIF(S) → for conditional aggregation.
Use IFERROR → to handle errors in conditional formulas.
Combine IF + LOOKUP/XLOOKUP → for grading based on score ranges.
If you want, I can make a compact one-page visual “Conditional Functions Cheat
Sheet” for Excel, similar to the lookup functions sheet, so it’s easy to reference while
working.
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functions like rand, randbetween sequence, all of them
Perfect! Let’s make a comprehensive Excel Random & Sequence Functions Cheat
Sheet — including RAND , RANDBETWEEN , SEQUENCE , and related functions.
2. RANDBETWEEN
Syntax:
RANDBETWEEN(bottom, top)
Use: Returns a random integer between bottom and top.
Example:
=RANDBETWEEN(1,100) → 57
Notes:
Useful for simulating dice rolls, random IDs, test scores.
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Example:
=RANDARRAY(5,1,10,50,TRUE) → 5 random integers between 10–50
Notes:
integer = TRUE → returns integers; FALSE or omitted → decimals
4. SEQUENCE
Syntax:
SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])
5. ROW / COLUMN
ROW → Returns the row number of a reference.
=ROW(A5) → 5
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Syntax:
RANK(number, ref, [order])
✅ Quick Notes
RAND() → decimal 0–1
RANDBETWEEN() → integer
RANDARRAY() → array of random numbers (decimal or integer)
SEQUENCE() → generate sequences (1D or 2D)
ROW / COLUMN → generate dynamic references for sequences
Combine SEQUENCE + RANDARRAY → create structured random data tables
If you want, I can create a single-page Excel Functions Cheat Sheet combining:
1. Lookup functions
2. Conditional functions
3. Random & Sequence functions
…so you have all key Excel functions in one reference sheet.
Absolutely! Here’s a complete Excel Date Functions Cheat Sheet — covering all
commonly used date functions with syntax, use, and examples.
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Syntax:
=TODAY()
2. NOW
Syntax:
=NOW()
3. DATE
Syntax:
=DATE(year, month, day)
4. DATEVALUE
Syntax:
=DATEVALUE(date_text)
Use: Converts text representing a date into an Excel date serial number.
Example:
=DATEVALUE("13-Sep-2025") → 45113
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=MONTH(A1) → 9
6. DAYS / DAYS360
DAYS → Difference in days between two dates
=DAYS(end_date, start_date) → =DAYS("15-Sep-2025","13-Sep-2025")
→2
DAYS360 → Calculates days assuming 360-day year (for financial calculations)
=DAYS360("01-Jan-2025","31-Dec-2025") → 360
7. EDATE
Syntax:
=EDATE(start_date, months)
8. EOMONTH
Syntax:
=EOMONTH(start_date, months)
=EOMONTH("13-Sep-2025",2) → 31-Nov-2025
9. WORKDAY / WORKDAY.INTL
Syntax:
=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays]) → adds working days
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Example:
=WORKDAY("13-Sep-2025",5) → 20-Sep-2025 (skips weekends)
11. WEEKDAY
Syntax:
=WEEKDAY(serial_number, [return_type])
12. WEEKNUM
Syntax:
=WEEKNUM(serial_number, [return_type])
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=TEXT("13-Sep-2025","dddd") → Saturday
✅ Quick Notes
DATE → create date from numbers
TODAY / NOW → dynamic current date/time
DAY / MONTH / YEAR → extract parts of date
EDATE / EOMONTH → date arithmetic by months
WORKDAY / NETWORKDAYS → exclude weekends/holidays
WEEKDAY / WEEKNUM → day/week analysis
TEXT → custom date formatting
If you want, I can now make a complete “All Excel Functions Cheat Sheet” including:
Lookup functions
Conditional functions
Random & sequence functions
Date functions
Perfect! Here’s a complete Excel Text Functions Cheat Sheet — covering commonly
used text manipulation functions with syntax, use, and examples.
2. TEXTJOIN
Syntax:
TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], …)
Use: Joins multiple text strings with a delimiter; can ignore empty cells.
Example:
=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A1:A5) → "Apple, Orange, Banana"
4. LEN
Syntax:
LEN(text)
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5. TRIM
Syntax:
TRIM(text)
Use: Removes extra spaces (leaving only single spaces between words)
Example:
=TRIM(" Hello World ") → "Hello World"
7. FIND / SEARCH
FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num]) → Case-sensitive
SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num]) → Case-insensitive
Use: Returns the position of a substring in text
Example:
=FIND("c","Excel") → 3
=SEARCH("C","Excel") → 3
8. REPLACE / SUBSTITUTE
REPLACE(old_text, start_num, num_chars, new_text) → Replace part by position
=REPLACE("Excel",2,3,"ABC") → "EABCl"
9. TEXT
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Syntax:
TEXT(value, format_text)
=TEXT(TODAY(),"DD-MMM-YYYY") → "13-Sep-2025"
10. VALUE
Syntax:
VALUE(text)
11. REPT
Syntax:
REPT(text, number_times)
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Example:
=TEXTSPLIT("Apple,Orange,Banana",",") → {Apple, Orange, Banana}
✅ Quick Notes
Combine LEFT/MID/RIGHT + FIND/SEARCH → extract text dynamically
TRIM + CLEAN → clean messy text
TEXT → format numbers/dates as text
SUBSTITUTE / REPLACE → modify text
TEXTJOIN / CONCAT → merge text
I can now create a complete all-in-one Excel Functions Cheat Sheet covering:
1. Lookup functions
2. Conditional functions
3. Random & sequence functions
4. Date functions
5. Text functions
Absolutely! Here’s a concise Excel Dashboard & Pivot Table Cheat Sheet that covers
dashboard creation, summarization, slicers/timelines, and calculated fields.
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📊 Excel Dashboard & Pivot Table Cheat Sheet
1. Steps to Create a Dashboard
1. Data Preparation:
Clean data → remove blanks, duplicates, errors
Use Tables ( Ctrl+T ) for dynamic ranges
Format dates/numbers consistently
2. Summarize Data:
Pivot Tables: summarize data by rows/columns
Formulas: SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS
Dynamic Arrays: FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT
3. Visual Representation:
Charts: Column, Bar, Line, Pie, Combo, Waterfall
Conditional Formatting: highlight KPIs, trends
Sparklines: mini trend charts in cells
4. Add Interactivity:
Slicers: filter Pivot Tables/charts visually
Timelines: filter by date (year/month/quarter)
5. Layout & Formatting:
Use consistent colors, borders, fonts
Keep KPIs visible at top
Use separate sheet for dashboard, keep raw data hidden
COUNTIFS(criteria_range1, criteria1, …)
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SORT(range, [sort_index], [sort_order])
FILTER(range, condition) → dynamic subset
3. Slicers
Use: Visually filter Pivot Tables/charts
Steps:
1. Insert → Slicer → choose field
2. Connect slicer to multiple pivot tables → Slicer Settings → Report
Connections
4. Timelines
Use: Filter dates in Pivot Tables by year/month/quarter
Steps:
1. Insert → Timeline → select date field
2. Move timeline above Pivot Table/chart
3. Adjust time level: Years, Quarters, Months, Days
Tips:
Connect one timeline to multiple pivot tables/charts
Combine with slicers for multi-dimensional filtering
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Profit Margin = =Profit / Sales
Growth Rate = =(CurrentYear - PreviousYear) / PreviousYear
Tips:
Use existing Pivot fields in formula
Can also create Calculated Items for individual row/column values
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If you want, I can make a visual one-page Excel Dashboard Cheat Sheet showing:
Got it! Here’s a complete guide on adding buttons and drop-downs in Excel for
dashboards and interactivity.
Steps:
1. Select the cell(s) where you want the drop-down.
2. Go to Data → Data Validation → Data Validation.
3. Under Allow, select List.
4. In Source, type values separated by commas, e.g.:
mathematica
makefile
=A1:A5
5. Click OK.
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Tips:
Check In-cell dropdown to show arrow.
Use named ranges to make lists dynamic.
Can combine with VLOOKUP / INDEX-MATCH to make interactive
dashboards.
Steps:
1. Enable Developer Tab:
File → Options → Customize Ribbon → Check Developer
2. Go to Developer → Insert → Form Controls → Button.
3. Draw the button on the sheet.
4. Assign a macro (or skip for now).
5. Right-click → Edit Text to rename button.
Tips:
Can use buttons for macro actions, jumping between sheets, or filter
triggers.
Combine with Slicers / Pivot Table filters for interactive dashboards.
Steps:
1. Developer → Insert → Form Controls → Combo Box.
2. Draw box on sheet.
3. Right-click → Format Control:
Input range: your list of options
Cell link: cell to show selected value index
4. Click OK.
Tip: Use INDEX(InputRange, CellLink) to get actual selected value.
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4. ActiveX Controls (Advanced Buttons / Drop-downs)
Use: More formatting and programming options.
Steps:
1. Developer → Insert → ActiveX Controls → Button / Combo Box
2. Right-click → Properties to customize
3. Assign VBA code by right-click → View Code
Tip: ActiveX is more flexible but slower for large dashboards; Form Controls are
preferred for simplicity.
graphql
Button → Macro:
Example: Refresh Pivot Table
vba
Sub RefreshPT()
Sheets("Sheet1").PivotTables("PivotTable1").RefreshTable
End Sub
Combo Box (Form Select & link to cell Good for interactive
Control) dashboards
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Control Use Notes
If you want, I can create a visual mini-dashboard example showing buttons, drop-
downs, slicers, timelines, and charts all working together — ready to use as a
template.
Absolutely! Here’s a concise “What-If Analysis” Excel Cheat Sheet covering all major
tools, formulas, and best practices for modeling scenarios and forecasts.
2. Goal Seek
Use: Find the input value needed to achieve a desired result.
Steps:
1. Data → What-If Analysis → Goal Seek
2. Set “Set cell” → the formula/result you want to reach
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3. Set “To value” → desired result
4. Set “By changing cell” → the input variable
5. Click OK → Excel adjusts input to reach target
Example:
Desired profit = 50,000 → find sales quantity needed to achieve it.
3. Data Tables
Use: Analyze multiple input values at once to see impact on results.
Types:
One-variable table → single input variable
Two-variable table → two input variables
4. Scenario Manager
Use: Save and compare different scenarios (e.g., best, worst, expected).
Steps:
1. Data → What-If Analysis → Scenario Manager
2. Click Add → name scenario, select changing cells, enter values
3. Repeat for multiple scenarios
4. Click Summary → Excel generates a comparison table
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Example:
Changing assumptions: Sales = 1000/1500/2000, Cost = 10/12/15 → compare
profits
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Tool Use When to Use
If you want, I can make a visual one-page What-If Analysis Cheat Sheet showing
Goal Seek, Data Table, Scenario Manager, and Solver examples — with arrows &
formulas — so you can follow it step by step while working in Excel.
conditional formatting
2. Built-in Rules
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2.2 Top/Bottom Rules
Top 10 Items / Bottom 10 Items
Top 10% / Bottom 10%
Above / Below Average
Example: Top 5% Sales → green fill
3. Data Bars
Use: Show magnitude visually in cell (like a mini-bar chart).
Example: Sales 50 → short bar, Sales 200 → long bar
4. Color Scales
Use: Gradient coloring based on value range.
Example: 2-color scale → lowest = red, highest = green
3-color scale → low = red, mid = yellow, high = green
5. Icon Sets
Use: Show symbols/icons based on value ranges
Examples:
Arrows ↑ ↓ → increase/decrease
Traffic lights → status
Stars → ratings
excel
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=B2>C2
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=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$100,A2)>1
excel
=$C2="Pending"
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If you want, I can make a visual one-page Conditional Formatting Cheat Sheet with
examples of formulas, data bars, color scales, and icons, perfect for dashboards.
Absolutely! Let’s make a cheat sheet for combining Lookup functions with
Conditional logic in Excel — this is extremely useful for dynamic dashboards,
grading systems, or KPI calculations.
excel
Example 1: Grading
css
Explanation: Checks score is ≥0, then looks up grade in table; else shows
“Invalid Score”.
2. IFERROR + VLOOKUP
Use: Avoid #N/A when lookup fails.
Syntax:
excel
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=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_range, col_index, [range_lookup]), "Not Found")
Example:
excel
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,Products!A:B,2,FALSE),"Item Missing")
3. INDEX + MATCH + IF
Use: More flexible than VLOOKUP; combine conditional logic.
Syntax:
excel
Example:
excel
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=LOOKUP(2,1/(ConditionRange="Yes"),ResultRange)
Explanation:
Finds the last value in ResultRange where ConditionRange = “Yes”.
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Use: Lookup values based on conditions across multiple criteria.
SUMIFS Syntax:
excel
Example:
excel
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=IF(B2>=90,"A",IF(B2>=80,"B",IF(B2>=70,"C","F")))
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If you want, I can make a one-page visual cheat sheet showing all the
combinations of Lookup + Conditional functions with examples, perfect for
dashboards, grading, and KPI calculations.
I’ve combined all the formulas and cheat sheets you asked for into a single Excel file.
You can download it here:
📂 Excel_Functions_CheatSheet.xlsx
It has categories like Lookup, Conditional, Date, Text, Dashboard tools, What-If
Analysis, Conditional Formatting, and Lookup + Conditional — each with syntax
and examples.
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Would you like me to also add a sample dataset + demo formulas (ready-to-use
examples) inside the sheet, so you can practice directly?
Here’s the updated Excel Master Cheat Sheet with the exact structure you
requested:
📂 Excel_Functions_Master_CheatSheet.xlsx
It has 4 columns:
Do you also want me to add a sample dataset tab where these formulas are
demonstrated live (so you can test VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, etc.)?
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