How to Get a Date Using VLOOKUP in MS Excel 2003

1. Apply cell formatting to any cells that will contain dates. Start a sample project by formatting the entire worksheet. Click the 'Select All' box in the upper left-hand corner. Click 'Format > Cells.' On the 'Number' tab under 'Category,' select 'Date.' Under 'Type,' choose a date format. Click 'OK.'
2. Create column headings. In cell A1, type 'Enter Start Date.' In cell B1, type 'End Date.' In cell C1, type 'Start.' In cell D1, type 'End.'
3. Build a lookup table. The VLOOKUP function will look for a certain date in the left-hand column and return the corresponding date in the right-hand column. For the sample table, enter start dates in column C and completion dates in column D, as follows:Cell C2: 1/1/10
Cell C3: 2/12/10
Cell C4: 3/15/10
Cell C5: 4/19/10Cell D2: 1/29/10
Cell D3: 3/1/10
Cell D4: 4/17/10
Cell D5: 5/2/10
4. Enter a value to look for. In cell A2, type one of the starting dates you entered in column C, such as '4/19/10.'
5. Write a formula instructing Excel to look for the start date in cell A2 within the range C2:D5, then return the end date in column D (or 'column 2'). In cell B2, type:=VLOOKUP(A2, C2:D5,2)Press 'Enter.' The date 'May 2, 2010' will appear in your selected date format.