VLOOKUP Not Showing Result ?

Aitch

Board Regular
Joined
Jan 27, 2019
Messages
119
Office Version
  1. 2010
Platform
  1. Windows
It's a pretty simple function - just look down the column range and display the cell that is not blank...

=VLOOKUP("?*",A2:A12,1,0)

It works when there is text in the cell - but gives an error when the cell shows a number?

What is the fix?

Thanks for your help!
 

Excel Facts

Which lookup functions find a value equal or greater than the lookup value?
MATCH uses -1 to find larger value (lookup table must be sorted ZA). XLOOKUP uses 1 to find values greater and does not need to be sorted.
It's a pretty simple function - just look down the column range and display the cell that is not blank...
If there is only one not blank then
=SUM(A2:A12)

Otherwise try
=INDEX(A2:A12,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(A2:A12<>"",0),0))
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
If you know that you have an entry, but it could be text or number, then:
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]=IFERROR(VLOOKUP("?*",A2:A12,1,0),MAX(A2:A12))[/FONT]
 
Upvote 0
Thank you! I'd have never thought of using SUM or MAX - even though it's so obvious lol!

Is there a specific reason why VLOOKUP doesn't play well with numbers?
 
Upvote 0
Thank you! I'd have never thought of using SUM or MAX - even though it's so obvious lol!
You're welcome. :)


Is there a specific reason why VLOOKUP doesn't play well with numbers?
Being in quotes, your lookup value "?*" is specifically saying it is a Text value that you are looking for.
 
Upvote 0

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