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Unselected columns keep literal text, including leading zeros, = signs and error-looking labels. Selected numeric columns accept plain finite numbers; their empty cells are blank.
| Cell row | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Region | Status | Amount |
| 2 | East | Paid | 10 |
| 3 | West | Paid | 20 |
| 4 | East | Pending | 30 |
| 5 | East | Paid | -5 |
The trial writes only to J2 in a copy of these literal cells. It allows at most 144 result cells and stops a calculation that exceeds its time limit. No model suggestion is run automatically.
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Published help topic
Choose exact or threshold matching
A missing exact record and a nearest-lower quantity band require different lookup rules.
- For an ID, begin with exact matching and inspect numeric/text types and spaces if the record is missing.
- For a band table, define whether a boundary belongs to the lower or upper band. XLOOKUP match mode -1 chooses an exact or next-smaller key.
- A binary search requires the documented sort order. Handle a genuine missing match with a chosen label; keep unrelated errors visible.
Reference: Microsoft: XLOOKUP
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