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Excel: Which Lookup Function Should I Use?

XLOOKUP - VLOOKUP - INDEX/MATCH - SUMIFS

Created byJeff Lenningworkspace_premiumBest Instructor
IntermediateUpdated Jan 22, 2020

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleIdentify key differences between common functions
  • check_circleState the arguments of VLOOKUP
  • check_circleRecall the arguments of SUMIFS
  • check_circleUnderstand how to nest MATCH and INDEX
  • check_circleState key benefits of using XLOOKUP

About This Course

While VLOOKUP has long been the go-to function for data retrieval in Excel, it’s not always the best tool for the job. In this focused course, you’ll explore a range of powerful lookup functions, including INDEX/MATCH, SUMIFS, and the newer XLOOKUP (available in recent Excel versions). You'll learn the advantages, limitations, and ideal use cases for each function to help you choose the most efficient and reliable method based on your data structure and Excel version.

Perfect for Excel users looking to sharpen their data analysis skills, this course will give you the confidence to move beyond VLOOKUP and unlock more advanced, flexible lookup techniques.

Course Content

1 activity • 1 videos • duration: 58m

remove
Section 11 videos • 58 min
  • videocamWhich Lookup Function?
    Duration 58:25

Your Instructor

Jeff Lenning

CPA and Microsoft Certified Trainer

menu_book36 courses
star1,182 reviews

In his live CPE training sessions, Jeff Lenning CPA has shown thousands of CPAs and accounting professionals across the country how to use Excel to streamline their work and become more efficient. Several publications have featured his Excel articles, including the Journal of Accountancy and California CPA Magazine. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Jeff began his career in the audit practice at Arthur Andersen’s Orange County office. He was a senior financial analyst at Gateway computers and the accounting manager at Interpore Cross International. In 2000, he founded Click Consulting Inc., a technology-consulting firm that specializes in Excel training, consulting, development, and personal coaching. He is a past president of the CalCPA OCLB Chapter, the former chair of the California CPA State Technology Committee, co-chair of the California CPA OCLB Chapter Technology Committee, a board member of the California CPA OCLB Chapter, on the California Society of CPAs Council, and an instructor for the AICPA and the California CPA Education Foundation. A Microsoft Office Certified Excel Expert, he is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer. He was recently recognized with the California CPA Education Foundation's Award for Instructor Excellence.

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

What Students Are Saying

4.6 out of 5
Student's Choice
102 reviews
  • KB
    Kevin B.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Good pace and explanations. Good use of examples and compare/contrast various lookup functions.

  • BH
    Brad H.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Good knowledge of subject and presentation method

  • LK
    Lorne K.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Excellent!!!

  • DL
    Domenic L.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Well laid out with easy examples to follow and understand. Instructor is dynamic and engaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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