Vlookup,format general, format text

[techguy99]

Hi,
I am having a pull the hair out problem with excel. I have a workbook that I
use vlookup to get data from a datasheet in the same workbook. The data is a
combination of text and numbers and text and numbers combined. Excel
sometimes returns the values I want and sometimes doesn't. Sometimes I have
to format the data as text and vlookup will work and sometimes not. Then I
switch the data to general and it will work and sometimes not. This is
extremely frustrating. Now I have a few cells that will not return anything
but N/A no matter what format I have it in. I know that that data is okay
because on another sheet vlookup works fine with the same data in the same
format. I have deleted, cleared cells, changed formats more times than I care
to count. I am using Excel 2007 though I had the same problem in Excel 2003.

I have tried to explain this but will do more if anyone is willing to help.
thanks,

 

[AltaEgo]

Have you tried Index and match?
Contextures explain it well and include good examples to help you understand
how it works.

http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions03.html

If you are stuck, don't despair. post a representative sample of your data
together with your formula.

 

[AltaEgo]

Forgot to mention. Make sure you read the "Troubleshoot the MATCH formula"
section. It may help with your current problem.