Simple cross-reference formula

[lennon74]

I'm trynig to retrieve the data from a cell that is next to a cell with a certain value.

Here's what I'm talking about:

Apple 1
Boy 2
Cat 3
Dog 4

If cell a6 is 4, then I want cell a7 to display "Cat".
This is probably really simple, but I'm pretty new to excel and couldn't figure it out.
Thanks in advance!

[Juan Pablo González]

Assuming that your data is in A1:B4, try this formula in B6

=INDEX(A1:A4,MATCH(A6,B1:B4,0))

[PaddyD]

Hi - welcome to the board!

Review the help file for vlookup - post back if you need more.

[Iridium]

I'm trynig to retrieve the data from a cell that is next to a cell with a certain value.

Here's what I'm talking about:

Apple 1
Boy 2
Cat 3
Dog 4

If cell a6 is 4, then I want cell a7 to display "Cat".
This is probably really simple, but I'm pretty new to excel and couldn't figure it out.
Thanks in advance!

a7=if(a6=4,"cat","") etc

Edit: that was the not looking answer! Check PaddyD's suggestion!

[Juan Pablo González]

Actually, Paddy's wont work either, because this is (If I understood correctly) a left-hand lookup, which can be achieved using INDEX/MATCH.

[lennon74]

Works perfect, thanks for all your quick responses!