Using vlookup and isnumber(search together?

[RedDodger78]

Hi,

I am hoping that there is a way to link a vlookup formula with a isnumber(search formula.

I have a working ISNUMBER(SEARCH formula, but what I would like to do is to add in a VLOOKUP so that I am searching within the right cell for the text string. To furhter complicate what I am trying to do, i am also using an IFERROR so that I can search across multple sheets to return an answer:

=IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet1[@[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet2[@[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet3[Work Description])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet4[@[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet5[[#Headers],[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet6[[#Headers],[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet7[[#Headers],[Work Description]])),IFERROR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(Table10[[#Headers],[XXX]],Sheet8[DESCRIPTION])),""))))))))

As I say, this is working at returning the desired True / False statement, but what I really need to do is incorporate a VLOOKUP so that I am searching within the right cell within all of the above sheets!

Is this possible at all, as i seem to be unable to put any combination that works.

Any help greatly received.

Geoff

 

[Col Delane]

Hi Geoff, and welcome to the Forum

Firstly, that's a doozy of a formula that makes my head ache trying to decipher it and work out what it's actually doing.

• 
  [*=1]Best practice would suggest that you break this out into smaller components (perhaps with the leg that tests each sheet being located on the respective sheet?) and then consolidate those results into a final outcome.
  [*=1]Could you expand your explanation/logic in non-Excel terms (& ignoring your current formula as the method) as to the layout of your workbook and what you're trying to achieve?
  [*=1]What sort of values/strings are the arguments to the Search function (i.e. Table10[[#Headers], [XXX]], Sheet1[@[Work Description]] )

Also note that the components for each sheet are not consistent:

• Sheet3[Work Description]) is missing the @ before "Work"
• Sheets 4,5 & 6 reference the [#Headers] field

Is this correct?


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As you indicate, the current formula appears to return True or False but gives no indication as to the sheet on which that result originated.

Is that what you want the VLOOKUP to do (which will return the value from the matching location)?
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