Vlookup in Airtable for tables without existing links

How to replicate Excel Vlookup formula in Airtable using Scripting block?

Vlookup might be one of the most popular advanced formulas in Excel. Its relative versatility has certainly lead to its numerous applications, often in places where other formulas would be better suited. In most cases, VLOOKUP() could be actually replaced by MATCH() formula embedded within INDEX() formula. A combination of these two functions allows for faster search speed and more complex the data structure to be searched.

In this article however, I would like to quickly remind the basics of VLOOKUP and show how this function can be replicated in Airtable using Scripting block.

VLOOKUP in Excel

Typical VLOOKUP formula consists of the Lookup Value (a value that we want to match) and Lookup Table/Array (range of cells where we will be looking for a match with our value). Within our Lookup Table/Array (range of cells to be searched) the first column of the table will where our value will be searched for a match. What the formula will return depends on the 3rd parameter in the query Column Index Number. In the case below it can be either column 1 or 2. As you can see below, upon a match we return values from the second column: