Vlookup Return Problem

[Nikjen]

Hi everyone,

I'm new at excell and having a problem with a return on a vlookup formula.

I have a workbook with several sheets all the same execpt worksheet 6. Which
has my zipcodes, city and state. I want to type in zip and get the exact
match and return the city.

My formula looks like this: =VLOOKUP(P11,MyLookup,2,FALSE)

H11 sheet 1 is where I have entered my formula and want my return to display

P11 sheet 1 is where I'm entering my zip
On sheet 6 which you see below is my range name MyLookup
2 is column B on sheet 6
False is exact

Sheet 6
1 Zip
City State
2

3



I entered my formula via the paste function in office 2000 which shows the
results as I go from box to box and it is all correct. However, when I hit
enter it won't display my result on sheet one. Only the formula.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Alan]

The cell its in is probably formatted as text. Try double clicking the cell
and press F2, I that does it, see below,
Ifyou have a lot of them, enter 1 in an empty cell, right click and copy it
then highlight the offending cells, right click again and select Paste
Special, Multiply, OK,
Regards,
Alan.

 

[Nikjen]

Hi Alan. Thanks for getting back to me on this. I tried your suggestion but
it still dosen't work. I formatted all the cells involved as text, number
and general but still to no avail. I'm wondering if I have a problem with
excell?

The cell its in is probably formatted as text. Try double clicking the cell
and press F2, I that does it, see below,
Ifyou have a lot of them, enter 1 in an empty cell, right click and copy it
then highlight the offending cells, right click again and select Paste
Special, Multiply, OK,
Regards,
Alan.

Hi everyone,

[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Alan]

Did you hit F2? Just changing the format to General etc doesn't work on its
own, you have either double click it or hit F2 which effectively reinserts
it.
I doubt if you have a problem with Excel.
If you still have a problem. post back, someone will have the answer,
Regards,
Alan.

Hi Alan. Thanks for getting back to me on this. I tried your suggestion
but
it still dosen't work. I formatted all the cells involved as text, number
and general but still to no avail. I'm wondering if I have a problem with
excell?

The cell its in is probably formatted as text. Try double clicking the
cell
and press F2, I that does it, see below,
Ifyou have a lot of them, enter 1 in an empty cell, right click and copy
it
then highlight the offending cells, right click again and select Paste
Special, Multiply, OK,
Regards,
Alan.

Hi everyone,

[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Nikjen]

Yes I did hit F2 after double clicking.

Did you hit F2? Just changing the format to General etc doesn't work on its
own, you have either double click it or hit F2 which effectively reinserts
it.
I doubt if you have a problem with Excel.
If you still have a problem. post back, someone will have the answer,
Regards,
Alan.

Hi Alan. Thanks for getting back to me on this. I tried your suggestion
but

[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]

 

[taylorm]

Look at your View tab from Tool/Options from the menubar. On the bottom
left under Window options there is a checkbox for Formulas. If this box
is checked, then your spreadsheet will show your formula rather than the
result.

 

[Nikjen]

Hey taylorm! Thanks for trying to help. I checked and the box is not
checked.
Steve

 

[Nikjen via OfficeKB.com]

To anyone out there having the same type of problem, I figured it out. Here
is the answer.

Go to http://www.contextures.com/xlDataEntry03.html and follow their
directions. It fixed my current problem.
I found that the zip codes in MyLookup on sheet 6 and P column must be
formatted as numbers and all the others as general. Since a zip may have
many different cities attatched to it, I have to work on finding a formula
to drop down a list to chose from now.
Special Thanks to Alan and taylorm for their help. I know it can be
frustrating with someone new.