lookup function problem... :(

[kbrian38]

Hi everyone, I have been using excel for a while already. Though canno
call myself a guru nor an expert yet. I ran across a problem wit
lookup functions.

I did a little experiment in using the vlookup function, it works ver
well, I could reference a range of data thru an index number.
Unfortunately one time I noticed that the value returned wa
incorrect.

for example...(though i tried this and it worked.. but there are reall
cases where it doesn't work!)

11111 - Dog
22222 - Cat
33333 - Snake
44444 - Mouse

When i tried entering 11111... instead of returning the value of DOG i
returned the value of CAT...

is there a prefered way to use codes such as Only Numeric, Alphanumeri
or Only Characters are alloweD?

Does this mean there's a bug with Excel's functions and aren't tha
reliable?

Please Help... Thanks

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
best way: always post your formula
In this case I think you forgot the 4th parameter of lookup. Try (if E1
contains 11111)
=VLOOKUP(E1,A1:B20,2,0)

The zero as last parameter is essential

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Let A1:B4 house the sample and E1 11111.

Since A1:A4 is in ascending order...

=VLOOKUP(E1,A1:B4,2)

should fetch Dog. This requires that the data type of E1 and A1 must be
identical.