vlookup does not find data

[jiwolf]

Hi all,

I have a worksheet that has a few vlookups that go on. In the main, there
isn't a problem. BUT, every so often, the vlookup returns an error ( i.e. it
cant find the value in the table)

Catch is the data IS there. If I manually search for it. Why would it not
find the data? is it a formatting thing?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Debra Dalgleish has some tips:
http://contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html#Trouble

 

[Niek Otten]

Probably it 's a text/number issue. Some text actually looks like numbers,
but isn't. You can find out with the ISNUMBER() function.
If some numbers are text, do the following:
Format an empty cell as number. Enter the number 1. Copy. Select your
"numbers". Edit>Paste Special, Check Multiply.

Another possibility is that there are spaces or other invisible characters
in your cells. You can checl with the LEN() function

Kind regards,

Niek Otten