Format vs look-up (index & match)

[DOberg9800]

I buy and sell cars. I'm using excel 2003. On sheet1, I enter purchase data. IE
year, make, model, color, vin, cost, expenses, etc. Another sheet is used for
entering sales. The sales sheet is set so that when I enter the vin number in
column A, column B,C, & D yield year, make and model for verification that I
have the right car. Then in column E etc. I enter the sale price, etc.
My problem is the index/match formula doesn't work because of some problem with
the format. Those little green triangles at the top left of the cell have
something to do with it. When they're not there (either in the sales sheet or
sheet 1) the formula works fine. Going to the format menu and making all the
same seems to have no effect. Please Help!!!

 

[Myrna Larson]

I suspect the problem has to do with your formula, not the green triangles.
Please post it.

 

[Ragdyer]

They're probably text instead of "real" XL numbers.

Right click in a new, unused cell.
Choose "Copy".
Now, select all the "bad" cells.
Right click in this selection and choose "PasteSpecial".
Right click again, and click on "Add", then <OK>.

This should convert your "text" numbers to "real" numbers, allowing your
formulas with matching formats to calculate properly.