True/False VLOOKUP if cell on one sheet appears anywhere in column on another sheet

Margaret Griffin

I'm trying to created a VLOOKUP formula the checks whether a cell value that lives on the same sheet as the formula can be found in anywhere in a column on a corresponding sheet. The formula should return a True/False value, or check a checkbox - whichever is simplest. I'm fairly certain the cell value should appear as '[Requester Email]@row' and the reference column should appear as '{Shared Contact Email}' I'm not sure how to write the logic for the True/False/checkbox response.

=VLOOKUP([Requester Email]@row, {Shared Contact Email}, ?)

Andrée Starå

Hi @mgriffin

I hope you're well and safe!

Here's a simple description of the structure for a VLOOKUP formula.

=VLOOKUP(CellThatHaveTheValueToMatch@row, {RangeThatHaveTheValueToMatch*}, 

ColumnNumberWithTheValueYouWantToShow, 0)

*Where the first column is the ColumnWithTheValueToMatchAgainsTheCell

Make sense?

Did that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Margaret Griffin

The 'ColumnNumberWithTheValueYouWantToShow' doesn't make sense to me. The value that shows depends on whether the "CellThatHaveTheValueToMatch@row" matches the "{RangeThatHaveTheValueToMatch}." It's almost like a COUNTIF formula where the cell value is dependent on the VLOOKUP results.

Andrée Starå

@mgriffin

Not sure I follow.

A VLOOKUP has a range where the first column in that range is matched against the value in your @row {RangeThatHaveTheValueToMatch}. The number then is to let Smartsheet know which column the value you want to show is in (ColumnNumberWithTheValueYouWantToShow).

More info.

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/vlookup

Make sense?

Are you thinking of an INDEX/MATCH formula?

Margaret Griffin

I was able to get this to work for my purposes. The following formula returns the value of the original cell value, if the value also appears in the reference column.

=VLOOKUP([Requester Email]@row, {Shared Contact Email}, 1)

If a value of #NO MATCH is returned, I'll know further set up is needed. And I can set an alert to notify if a #NO MATCH value is returned in the formula column.

Thanks!

Andrée Starå

@mgriffin

Excellent!

Glad you got it working!