formatting data for compatibility

[cory]

I'm having problems with data formatting while using
VLOOKUP.

I had the range of lookup values formatted as "text" and
the data someone sent me that will be used as the table
array data was formatted "general."

I reformatted my lookup values as "general" but I couldn't
get the lookup value to recognize the lookup range value.

But if I click a cell in the range of values that I
reformatted from "text" to "general" and then hit enter,
that value can then recognize an equivalent value in the
table range.

What should I have done when reformatting from "text"
to "general."

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

If the lookup values are text "numbers", use one of the techniques shown
here to convert them to real numbers:

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataEntry03.html