How to Use Google Sheets to Reference Data From Another Sheet
Google Sheets is a powerful tool that can help individuals and businesses in managing, analyzing, and organizing data. One of the useful features of Google Sheets is the ability to reference data from another sheet. This can save time and increase the accuracy of the data. In this article, we will discuss how to use Google Sheets to reference data from another sheet.
Step 1: Open Google Sheets
First, you need to open a Google Sheets document. To do this, go to the Google Drive homepage and click on the “New” button in the upper left-hand corner. Select “Google Sheets” from the drop-down menu to create a new blank document.
Step 2: Create two sheets
Once you have opened Google Sheets, you need to create two sheets. To do this, click on the “Create a new sheet” button located at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Type the name of your first sheet and click “Enter.” Then, repeat the process to create the second sheet.
Step 3: Enter Data on Both Sheets
Next, you need to enter data onto both sheets. This will allow you to reference data from one sheet to another. For example, you might have a sheet with employee names and another sheet with their salary. You will want to fill in the employee names on the first sheet and their salaries on the second sheet.
Step 4: Use the VLOOKUP Function
Once you have entered data onto both sheets, you can use the VLOOKUP function to reference the data from one sheet to another. The VLOOKUP function is useful for finding specific information in a larger set of data. To use the VLOOKUP function, you need to follow the steps below:
1. Click on the cell on sheet 1 where you want to display the referenced data.
2. Type “=” to start a formula.
3. Type “VLOOKUP(” to enter the VLOOKUP function.
4. Click on the cell in sheet 1 that contains the value you want to use as a reference point.
5. Type a comma.
6. Click on the range of cells in sheet 2 that contains the data you need to reference.
7. Type a comma.
8. Enter the number of columns away from the reference point in sheet 2 where you can find the data you need to reference.
9. Type a closing parenthesis to complete the formula.
Step 5: Copy the Formula
Once you have entered the formula, you can copy it down to the other cells in the column. To do this, click on the cell with the formula and drag the cursor down to copy the formula to the other cells.
In conclusion, using Google Sheets to reference data from another sheet is a great way to save time and increase the accuracy of the data. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily reference data from one sheet to another. Remember to use the VLOOKUP function and to copy the formula down to the other cells in the column. With these tools, you can easily manage and organize your data in Google Sheets.