VLookup returns #VALUE!

[Guest]

Excel 2003;
The following returns #VALUE!, which interferes with =SUM

=VLOOKUP(E7,'L-Ups'!$B$8:$E$23,2,FALSE)
The message is:" A value used in the formula is the wrong data type"
I have taken all data, multiplied by 1, copy and paste special as value into
tables.
I have verified that cell E7 on the "L-Ups" Sheet is a number.
I'm stuck.
Any suggestions?

 

[Ken Wright]

E7 is a number, so =ISTEXT(E7) = FALSE yes?

If you do the same to the 'number' in your table, does it also return FALSE?

Assuming for example, the matching number to E7 is in cell B12, if you do
=E7=B12 you get TRUE, yes?

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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[Guest]

Thanks for your info.
This helped me think in other directions.
Cell E7 is 'empty' when it gives me the #VALUE! error
As soon as I put in a valid number that corresponds to the lookup chart
the error disappears.
I got around the problem by adding a new row to the chart with only zero's
in it.
Now it does not give me an error, even when I have NO number in E7.
Go figure.
Thanks much for your input.