Mix VLOOKUP with Data Validation for some magic! [VLOOKUP Week]

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This article is part of our VLOOKUP Week. Read more.

Situation

Sometimes we don’t know what we want. If this happens when I am in a bar, I usually order a cocktail. Just a mix of everything. The same will work in Excel too.

For eg. If you have lots of data, but the value you want to look up needs to change based on whims and fancies of your users, then you can resort to a cocktail. A mix of VLOOKUP with Drop down lists (Data validation)

Data:

Data for this Example -Mix VLOOKUP with Data Validation for Some Magic

Solution

The recipe for VLOOKUP cocktail is relatively simple. We just take the list of sales person names and use it as a source for our input cell’s data validation drop down list. Rest is left to your imagination. Here is an example in action.

Examples:

Data for this Example -Mix VLOOKUP with Data Validation for Some Magic

Sample File

Download Example File – Mix VLOOKUP with Data Validation for Some Magic

Similar Tips

VLOOKUP Week @ Chandoo.org - Learn tips on lookup formulas in Excel

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5 Responses to “Show more of your workbook on screens [quick tip]”

  1. Bda75 says:

    In 2013 you can also add to the QAT the hidden command "Toggle Full Screen View".

  2. Chris Newman says:

    Instead of using the shortcut CTRL+F1, I prefer just to double-click one of the tab names (ie double-click the "Home" text on the Home tab) to enable the Ribbon Outline view. To return to the normal Ribbon state, just double-click your mouse again!

  3. liu says:

    press Ctrl+Shift+F1, you will get a full screen

  4. efand says:

    Instead of Ctrl + F1, I use Ctrl + Shift + F1 (Excel 2016)

  5. Jay says:

    Alt W E sequence for full screen
    ESC to get back

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