VLOOKUP function

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rick Jimenez
  • Start date Start date
R

Rick Jimenez

I am having a problem where I am using the VLOOKUP
function to populate a description of a part number from a
table. After verifying the equation is correct and that
the part number is in the table, the response is still
#n/a. At one point, I had to re-enter the part number
manually for it to recognize it and populate it
correctly.The formats of the cells are the same. The
lookup table is in Ascending order,and both part numbers
were re-entered manually. I do not understand why the
equation will not work correctly. Within the same table,
other part numbers were found and populated correctly with
the correct descriptions. Any ideas as to what is wrong
with either the equation or the part number format it is
looking for?
 
I usually see this happen when:

a) The lookup value is a number and the same value in the
lookup table is text (or vice versa).

b) There are extra unseen characters in one of the values
(such as spaces).

Keying over both values corrects this situaiton, but is
tedious. In order to ensure that you lookup value is
identical to your table value, use TRIM on everything to
solve for b) and make sure that are all numerical values
or text to solve a). That means you'll have to change the
lookup value or the table values to text (using =A1&""
should do it) or to a number (copy an empty cell and paste
special > value > add over the value(s) ).

HTH
Jason
Atlanta, GA
 
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