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Question: Regarding Lookups



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 6th, 2009, 04:48 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Derrick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks
  #2  
Old August 6th, 2009, 05:30 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
T. Valko
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15,759
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

C3 x 4.1

Is that the literal TEXT string C3 x 4.1 or does that mean cell C3 times
4.1?

If you're using the LOOKUP( ) function then the lookup_vector *must* be
sorted in ascending order otherwise there's no telling what result you may
get.

You can probably use the VLOOKUP( ) and set the range_lookup argument to 0
or FALSE to find exact matches only.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Derrick" wrote in message
...
Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in
has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup()
can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks



  #3  
Old August 6th, 2009, 06:13 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Dave Peterson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 19,791
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks


--

Dave Peterson
  #4  
Old August 6th, 2009, 06:14 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Derrick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

hi.
yes, that is the literal text.
- "C3 x 4.1"

I've tried using the Match() function, with the match_type = 0, but it still
doesnt work. for cells with "10 x 2 x .125" it will find "10 x 2" and return
the value corresponding to that one.

"T. Valko" wrote:

C3 x 4.1


Is that the literal TEXT string C3 x 4.1 or does that mean cell C3 times
4.1?

If you're using the LOOKUP( ) function then the lookup_vector *must* be
sorted in ascending order otherwise there's no telling what result you may
get.

You can probably use the VLOOKUP( ) and set the range_lookup argument to 0
or FALSE to find exact matches only.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Derrick" wrote in message
...
Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in
has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup()
can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks




  #5  
Old August 6th, 2009, 06:38 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Derrick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

thanks. . i know.

i've changed it to a VLOOKUP() formula, but i've come across 2 problems.
1 my info that im looking up in on the left side of the description, and as
far as i know, vlookup always looks on column A (or the left side)

so:

Item Description
1 C3 x 4.1
2 C4 x 6.2
3 2 x 4
4 2 x 2 x .125

i want to return the item number, using the description. it can't be the
other way around because i have the description in a dropdown list - ppl wont
know what steel it is by the item number.

2 im stil getting a #N/A error, which doesnt make sense, because the
dropdown list has its descriptions copied into it from the sheet im trying to
compare it to. so they should be exactly the same.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks


--

Dave Peterson

  #6  
Old August 6th, 2009, 06:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
RagDyeR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,482
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

Elementary question - are you enclosing your lookup values in quotes?

How about posting your actual formula(s).
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Derrick" wrote in message
...
thanks. . i know.

i've changed it to a VLOOKUP() formula, but i've come across 2 problems.
1 my info that im looking up in on the left side of the description, and
as
far as i know, vlookup always looks on column A (or the left side)

so:

Item Description
1 C3 x 4.1
2 C4 x 6.2
3 2 x 4
4 2 x 2 x .125

i want to return the item number, using the description. it can't be the
other way around because i have the description in a dropdown list - ppl
wont
know what steel it is by the item number.

2 im stil getting a #N/A error, which doesnt make sense, because the
dropdown list has its descriptions copied into it from the sheet im trying
to
compare it to. so they should be exactly the same.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in
has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but
Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks


--

Dave Peterson



  #7  
Old August 6th, 2009, 07:04 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
RagDyeR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,482
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

With your dropdown list in C1, try something like this:

=INDEX(A2:A5,MATCH(C1,B2:B5,0))
--
HTH,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Derrick" wrote in message
...
thanks. . i know.

i've changed it to a VLOOKUP() formula, but i've come across 2 problems.
1 my info that im looking up in on the left side of the description, and
as
far as i know, vlookup always looks on column A (or the left side)

so:

Item Description
1 C3 x 4.1
2 C4 x 6.2
3 2 x 4
4 2 x 2 x .125

i want to return the item number, using the description. it can't be the
other way around because i have the description in a dropdown list - ppl
wont
know what steel it is by the item number.

2 im stil getting a #N/A error, which doesnt make sense, because the
dropdown list has its descriptions copied into it from the sheet im trying
to
compare it to. so they should be exactly the same.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in
has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but
Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks


--

Dave Peterson



  #8  
Old August 6th, 2009, 07:50 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Dave Peterson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 19,791
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

My message was more of a warning to potential posters. Since you made multiple
posts to various newsgroups, you may already have your answer--or at least
similar responses.

I was warning them that they may be wasting their time.

Derrick wrote:

thanks. . i know.

i've changed it to a VLOOKUP() formula, but i've come across 2 problems.
1 my info that im looking up in on the left side of the description, and as
far as i know, vlookup always looks on column A (or the left side)

so:

Item Description
1 C3 x 4.1
2 C4 x 6.2
3 2 x 4
4 2 x 2 x .125

i want to return the item number, using the description. it can't be the
other way around because i have the description in a dropdown list - ppl wont
know what steel it is by the item number.

2 im stil getting a #N/A error, which doesnt make sense, because the
dropdown list has its descriptions copied into it from the sheet im trying to
compare it to. so they should be exactly the same.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks


--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson
  #9  
Old August 6th, 2009, 08:51 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
RagDyeR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,482
Default Question: Regarding Lookups

I should have picked up on that, but that would mean reading the entire
thread before opening my mouth, which I guess doesn't happen too often.bg
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
My message was more of a warning to potential posters. Since you made
multiple
posts to various newsgroups, you may already have your answer--or at least
similar responses.

I was warning them that they may be wasting their time.

Derrick wrote:

thanks. . i know.

i've changed it to a VLOOKUP() formula, but i've come across 2 problems.
1 my info that im looking up in on the left side of the description, and
as
far as i know, vlookup always looks on column A (or the left side)

so:

Item Description
1 C3 x 4.1
2 C4 x 6.2
3 2 x 4
4 2 x 2 x .125

i want to return the item number, using the description. it can't be the
other way around because i have the description in a dropdown list - ppl
wont
know what steel it is by the item number.

2 im stil getting a #N/A error, which doesnt make sense, because the
dropdown list has its descriptions copied into it from the sheet im
trying to
compare it to. so they should be exactly the same.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You have an active thread elsewhere.

Derrick wrote:

Why won't Lookup recognize C3 x 4.1 when the cell im looking it up in
has...
C3 x 4.1 exactly?
also in that column are 2 x 4, 2 x 2 x .125, and many more, but
Lookup() can
'lookup' these cells.

can anyone offer an explanation? or a method of fixing this?

thanks

--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson



 




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