Problem with VLOOKUP where lookup_value is itself the result of a VLOOKUP

[CymroLlundain]

I'm sure that I have seen nested VLOOKUPs work but I am unable to persuade what is essentially =VLOOKUP(VLOOKUP(firstdataset,E1,2,0),seconddataset,W1,2,0)) to return anything other than #N/A.
The first data set has two columns, containing four digit ID codes for students in one, with an assignment raw mark alongside (an integer in the range 0 to 60). The second data set contains the list of possible assignment raw marks, with their associated grade values alongside - again, just two columns. All four columns are formatted as numbers.

Row 1 refers to student 9743. Her assignment score is 47. VLOOKUP(firstdataset,E1,2,0) correctly returns the value 47.

However, =VLOOKUP(VLOOKUP(firstdataset,E1,2,0),seconddataset,W1,2,0)) returns #N/A. If I replace the second VLOOKUP() with the number 47, then the function correctly returns the grade value equivalent to a raw score of 47 - that is, 63.

Is the problem with the nesting? Any help gratefully received.

 

[Vidar]

Shouldn't your formula be set up like this?
=VLOOKUP(VLOOKUP(E1,firstdataset,2,0),seconddataset,2,0))

 

[CymroLlundain]

Crumbs. Yes, it shouldn't look like I've typed at all.

It actually says exactly what you've typed. Same result, though.

 

[Vidar]

Difficult to say what the problem might be. Could you upload a sample of your workbook to an online storage site?

 

[jarjarbingie]

make sure that the format of 47 in the first dataset is in the same format of 47 in the second dataset..