The error message that I get is quite simply "The formula you typed contains
an error". as mentioned earlier it is the timing of the error not the error
itself as it appears in the middle of entering the formula, when I try to
move to the look up range workbook, not when the input is complete. I have
tried copying the sheet from the range workbook into the file with the lookup
formula so that I am not moving to a completely different file but the error
still occurs while moving through tabs.

"BG Mark" wrote:

I do apologise for not putting the error message into the question but
unfortunately i cannot at this time access the persons computer on which the
error occured but from what I remember it was basically saying something like
"Your Formula Contains an Error". I have seen this type of message before,
but not at this stage of entering the formula, it's only ever occured on
completion of the entry. I will be able to get more detials tomorrow. I did
try to enter the whole formula by typing rather than moving to the cells but
I got the same message. Thanks for all who have replied but I hope you will
be patient and try to solve my problem again tomorrow.

Mark

"Jacob Skaria" wrote:

--What is the error?

--What happens if you enter the full formula into the cell; rather than
moving around to select the range.

=VLOOKUP("lookup",[Bookname.xls]Sheet1!$A$1:$D$100,2,0)

--
Jacob (MVP - Excel)


"BG Mark" wrote:

I am trying to enter a vlookup function into a cell to look at data in
another work book, but after entering the initial lookup reference followed
by the comma, I get an error message when I try to move to the look up range
in the other work book. It may be some setting within the work book but i
cannot figure out what. I have used vlookup on many occasions and have never
seen this type of error before.