How to update columns using VLookup function in Excel

hie....

I want to update the columns in my Excel Workbook by using the Vlookup function. can anybody please provide me the information on how do I use this Vlookup function in Excel ?
thanks....

In Excel, the VLookup is a function that searches for the value in the left-most column of table_array and returns the value in the same row based on the index_number.

The syntax for the VLookup function is:
VLookup( value, table_array, index_number, not_exact_match )

where,
value is the value to search for in the first column of the table_array.
table_array is two or more columns of data that is sorted in ascending order.
index_number is the column number in table_array from which the matching value must be returned. The first column is 1.
not_exact_match determines if you are looking for an exact match based on value. Enter FALSE to find an exact match. Enter TRUE to find an approximate match, which means that if an exact match if not found, then the VLookup function will look for the next largest value that is less than value.

The V in VLOOKUP stands for Vertical. I would suggest you to use VLOOKUP instead of HLOOKUP when your comparison values are located in a column to the left of the data that you want to find.

The VLookup function by its self will not work for this. It takes a lookup value finds a match in one column and returns a value in x column on the same row.

The syntax for this is as follows -
VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)

For example,
=VLOOKUP(1,A2:C10,2)

Using an approximate match, searches for the value 1 in column A, finds the largest value less than or equal to 1 in column A, and then returns the value from column B in the same row.

For using Vlookup function, first you need to create a Lookup table. Once, you create a lookup table, follow these steps to use Vlookup function -

1. Add your new column on your original worksheet that will display the info pulled from the Lookup table.
2. Place your cursor in the first blank cell in that column.
3. From the Insert menu, select Function…. The Insert Function dialog will appear.
4. In the Search for a function: text box, type “vlookup” and click Go.
5. Highlight VLOOKUP and click OK.