I need to create a VLOOKUP that uses a variable for the TABLE ARRAY element
in the formula.

I can create the proper formula but it won't execute the lookup. It begins
with an = sign but it acts like it is only text. How can I take:

=concatenate("=VLOOKUP($B$11,Table" & b31 & ",3,FALSE")) and have the result
perform the lookup?

I've tried using an indirect(b31) but that isn't it either.

Help!

Thanks,
Ken

Have you considered using a named range? It can be pre-defined or defined
with VBA.

"KG Old Wolf" wrote:

> I need to create a VLOOKUP that uses a variable for the TABLE ARRAY element
> in the formula.
>
> I can create the proper formula but it won't execute the lookup. It begins
> with an = sign but it acts like it is only text. How can I take:
>
> =concatenate("=VLOOKUP($B$11,Table" & b31 & ",3,FALSE")) and have the result
> perform the lookup?
>
> I've tried using an indirect(b31) but that isn't it either.
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks,
> Ken
>

It looks like you could use something like:

Try:
=VLOOKUP($B$11,indirect("Table"&b31),3,FALSE)



KG Old Wolf wrote:
>
> I need to create a VLOOKUP that uses a variable for the TABLE ARRAY element
> in the formula.
>
> I can create the proper formula but it won't execute the lookup. It begins
> with an = sign but it acts like it is only text. How can I take:
>
> =concatenate("=VLOOKUP($B$11,Table" & b31 & ",3,FALSE")) and have the result
> perform the lookup?
>
> I've tried using an indirect(b31) but that isn't it either.
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks,
> Ken

--

Dave Peterson

you need the IDIRECT function and you don't need concatenate


so I think your aim is to replace this

=VLOOKUP(B11, table4,3,false) 'A

with a variable for table4

so breakign it down

=VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table4"),3,false)
should be the same as 'A above and then

=VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table" & "4"),3,false)
then
=VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table" & B31),3,false)

if B31 has the value 5, then the lookup would be table5







"KG Old Wolf" wrote:

> I need to create a VLOOKUP that uses a variable for the TABLE ARRAY element
> in the formula.
>
> I can create the proper formula but it won't execute the lookup. It begins
> with an = sign but it acts like it is only text. How can I take:
>
> =concatenate("=VLOOKUP($B$11,Table" & b31 & ",3,FALSE")) and have the result
> perform the lookup?
>
> I've tried using an indirect(b31) but that isn't it either.
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks,
> Ken
>

sorry, typo. IDIRECT should of course be INDIRECT , which is typed
correctly in the formula that I gave.

"Patrick Molloy" wrote:

> you need the IDIRECT function and you don't need concatenate
>
>
> so I think your aim is to replace this
>
> =VLOOKUP(B11, table4,3,false) 'A
>
> with a variable for table4
>
> so breakign it down
>
> =VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table4"),3,false)
> should be the same as 'A above and then
>
> =VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table" & "4"),3,false)
> then
> =VLOOKUP(B11,INDIRECT("table" & B31),3,false)
>
> if B31 has the value 5, then the lookup would be table5
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "KG Old Wolf" wrote:
>
> > I need to create a VLOOKUP that uses a variable for the TABLE ARRAY element
> > in the formula.
> >
> > I can create the proper formula but it won't execute the lookup. It begins
> > with an = sign but it acts like it is only text. How can I take:
> >
> > =concatenate("=VLOOKUP($B$11,Table" & b31 & ",3,FALSE")) and have the result
> > perform the lookup?
> >
> > I've tried using an indirect(b31) but that isn't it either.
> >
> > Help!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ken
> >