match-up formula

[Melvin_Flint_2247]

I need to create a match-up formula that returns the value from another
column. I have 2 columns (trailer numbers and their corresponding
commodity), and I have another column which has the same trailer numbers and
I want to create a match-up program that will search in column D for a match
in column A, then return its value in column B; here is an example:

Column A Column B Column D Column E
Trailer Commodity Trailer (match trailer# in col. D w/ col. A
5271 Clamp 5271 return value in col. B)
5502 Clamp 7912
7912 Clamp 8659
8592 Clamp 8682
8659 Clamp 8900
8682 Cart 9233
8900 Clamp 10837
9233 Clamp
10837 Clamp
10908 Clamp

i tried VLOOKUP but it only works for trailer #'s that start with a letter,
not the trailer #'s with a number (it returns #N/A in this case).

Thanks for your help.

 

[PJFry]

The problem you are having with your VLOOKUP is probably that trailer numbers
in one column are formatted at text, while the trailer number in the other
columns are formatted as numbers.

My guess is that column A has the text values. You can format your column D
to be text by simply using ="&D1. This will make your value text and your
look should work fine.

Post back to let us know how it worked out.

 

[Melvin_Flint_2247]

So what is the correct formula i would need to lookup for just the numbers?

 

[PJFry]

You would convert the number to a string in VLOOKUP. Try this:

=VLOOKUP("&D1,A1:A10(or whatever your range is),1,FALSE)

See how that works out for you.


--
Regards,

PJ
Please rate this post using the vote buttons if it was helpful.