VLOOKUP problem

[Guest]

I have a spreadsheet that uses this simple VLOOKUP formula:

=VLOOKUP(C6,vlookupjulychg,2,0)

The vlookupjulychg range refers to a table that originates from a report
downloaded from my mainframe. This formula returns a #N/A error. If I
retype the number that is being looked up, the formula works correctly. The
lookup column is an alpha-numeric column. That makes me think it's a
formatting issue, but I can't seem to figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This is a monthly process, so manual
entry is not my first choice.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Example of what you type when it works?


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Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

Excel 95 - Excel 2007
Northwest Excel Solutions
www.nwexcelsolutions.com

 

[Guest]

I simply retype what is in the field and it works. For example:

The field already contained MS10-7112-00, I typed that again and the
formula worked.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Is that what you type as the lookup value or is that what you type into the
column you are trying to find the value in?

I assume it is the latter, then most likely you have hidden characters in
the import, you can try

=VLOOKUP(C6,TRIM(vlookupjulychg),2,0)

entered with ctrl + shift & enter, if that doesn't work I would suggest a
macro

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall

will remove all extra characters, same web site has instructions on how to
install and run macros, you could just attach the macro to a button, select
the import and run the macro after each import



--


Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

Excel 95 - Excel 2007
Northwest Excel Solutions
www.nwexcelsolutions.com