How to lookup pictures in excel

How to lookup pictures in excel- There are many functions to lookup values from a list like Vlookup, Lookup, Index/match, and Xlookup but still these functions cannot fetch any pictures from a list. Only lookup pictures in excel can work to lookup images.


Pictures lookup in excel

Only the picture lookup function can be used to look up images or pictures in the workbook or excel sheet as per the names or whatever would be the dependent cell-like text or any number.

For Example:- 

Let's suppose we have a team that plays cricket and we have to maintain their data on excel, basically we have to look up their pictures as per their names in excel.

Like if we enter the name of any player in excel then his image must appear in the cell but unfortunately, it would not be possible from any inbuilt functions in excel.

Here we have to use a function called “Picture Lookup in Excel”.

To use this term we need to use the index match function for this work and data validation too if required.

Let us understand first what is Index match and how we would use it in picture lookup.

Index Match - Index-Match formula is basically a function which is the combination of two functions in excel.




Data Validation – we can use this data validation function to make the INDEX function more attractive and beautiful. It helps to validate any particular thing in excel.

Let suppose we have a column that consists of a list of numbers like 10,20,30,40,50 and in another column, we have text data in cells like A, B, C, D, and E and what we need is to do here, We want to validate this data such as if anybody comes in this excel file, cannot make any changes in numbers or text, we can put a data validation in the data like numbers and text cannot be changed also a pop-up may appear that “DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES”

That statement also can appear by using data validation in this workbook.

For a better understanding, we can watch a video here for the data validation function.


Now we learned about these 2 functions above Index Match and Data Validation so it is going to be pretty easy to understand the “Picture lookup function” here.

To work on it we need a few simple steps and can use it easily.

1). First, we have to select the cell where we want to put any value through want to check pictures and give it any name.

 

2). Go to the FORMULA tab and click the NAME MANAGER tab in it then we will have a small window open which will look like the image attached below, In this window, we have to give the name which has been asked to give above and here we have to put an INDEX MATCH the formula which will help us to get pictures lookup.

 

3). After clicking this FORMULA tab the window which will open will be looked like the image attached below.

 

How to lookup pictures in excel
How to lookup pictures in excel


This window has been opened now and looks at this cell K3 (this formula will be placed). Here we will put a formula of INDEX MATCH and cell L3 will have pictures displayed against the value in cell K3.


4). Look at this image will be looked like after putting a formula here for INDEX MATCH.


This window has been opened now and look at this cell K3 (this formula will be placed). Here we will put a formula of INDEX MATCH and cell L3 will have pictures displayed against the value in cell K3.


4). Look at this image will be looked like after putting a formula here for INDEX MATCH.

How to lookup pictures in excel
How to lookup pictures in excel

5). This formula has been placed in an empty place which is displayed as REFERS TO and makes sure first we have been aware of how this function works.
 

6). Let us click this cell L3 and here we have to paste a picture from cell G2 through PASTE SPECIAL (LINKED PICTURE) so that it will be linked with a formula which we put in cell K3.

Now click this picture in cell L3 and change its name from $g$2 to CUSTOMER ID name which we have given already or could be directly selected and hit enter now both cells have been linked with each other and now whatever the pictures have been attached or placed in data will be shown in L3 against value.

7). So now we can get pictures in cell L3 again with cell K3 value.

If we want to create a drop-down list here then it is also possible through the data validation tab in data and a drop-down list will be created easily now.

This data validation function makes this index function more attractive again.

Here we can use a data validation function like we can put a condition in the datasheet. Let's suppose we have got this column here that consists of a list of numbers which we saw in the video also, we can create a data validation like only numbers will appear in a list and no text can be added in this column.

We can also put any pop-up message that can appear if anybody will try to make any changes in the datasheet. This pop message can be any time such as professional or funny. Such as you are not allowed to make changes here or do not make any changes, changes cannot be done here.

That means it can be any pop-up message that we want to write and put up here. Now as we used this Picture lookup function in the datasheet or a workbook, here this column with customer id is linked with the image that we have in cells. If we make any changes in the images in the datasheet will also perform in the data that we made to look up pictures or images as per the customer id.

The conclusion is if want to use this function to look up the images or pictures then we must know other functions to use index-match and data validation also.

There are many functions you may like.

1). Hlookup Function

2). “If” Function

3). “And” function

4). “Conditional Formatting” Function

5). “Left” and “Right” Function 

6). “Sum” and “SumIF” Functions