In this insightful webcast, Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, focuses on alternatives to the VLOOKUP function. While many Excel users rely on VLOOKUP for basic lookup functionality, it’s often because they’re unaware of other functions that can enable them to work more efficiently in Excel. David sheds light on what can go awry with VLOOKUP; explains how to future-proof VLOOKUP; and discusses alternative functions, including IFNA, MATCH, SUMIF, SUMIFS, IFERROR, CHOOSE, and OFFSET.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in Excel 2016. He draws to your attention any differences in Excel 2013, 2010, or 2007 during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

• Learning about the IFNA function available in Excel 2013 and later
• Using the SUMIFS function to sum values based on multiple criteria
• Performing dual lookups, which allow you to look across columns and down rows to cross-reference the data you need
• Using Excel’s OFFSET function to dynamically reference data from one or more accounting periods
• Making VLOOKUP look up data from the left by using the CHOOSE function
• Future-proofing VLOOKUP by using Excel’s Table feature versus referencing static ranges
• Using the SUMIF function to summarize data based on a single criterion
• Learning why the INDEX and MATCH combination often is superior to VLOOKUP or HLOOKUP
• Avoiding the complexity of nested IF statements with Excel’s CHOOSE function
• Using the IFERROR function to display something other than an #N/A error value when VLOOKUP can’t find a match
• Using the MATCH function to find the position of an item in a list
• Improving the integrity of spreadsheets with Excel’s VLOOKUP function

Learning Objectives