Vlookup question

JimH

Board Regular
Joined
Apr 21, 2002
Messages
94
Office Version
  1. 2010
Platform
  1. Windows
Will vlookup work when there are duplicate entries in both spreadsheets? For example, in the spreadsheet where the vlookup formula is located, I go to the part number column to lookup the part number. In this column there are multiple entries of the same part number. I then go to a second spreadsheet to find that same part number (also having multiple entries of the same part number) and find the corresponding price to put in a column in the spreadsheet where the vlookup formula is.

When I spot check the #N/As, I find that the part number exists in the spreadsheet I'm doing the lookup in.

I'm sure the multiple entries are causing the problem, but I don't know how to get around the problem.

Any help would be appreciated.
 

Excel Facts

Show numbers in thousands?
Use a custom number format of #,##0,K. Each comma after the final 0 will divide the displayed number by another thousand
Multiple entries make no difference to VLOOKUPS however, they only return the first instance (so if you want to find the second instance etc you will have to use a more refined tool).

Are you using syntax = VLOOKUP(criteria,range,col_index,False)?

If you are check that the part numbers are IDENTICAL - in terms of character length. Take the cell you're looking up (say A1) and test it's length by = LEN(A1). Do the same thing on the matching part number in the lookup range. You may find that there's an additional space or something in one of the cells which means VLOOKUP will not find a match.

If it's still not working and all the above is aok then drop another message
 
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