Vlookup Error

So I have done millions of Vlookup formulas... at least it feels that way, but this time I am getting an error message that value is not available. Here is what is going on:

I have a large number that looks similair to this E0707-2143-003 and I have built a formula to extra just the middle prefix (2143), that works great. Then I use the Vlookup function to match the middle prefix (2143) to a model number. If I just do the a look up on 2143 by itself, it works fine, but as soon as I direct it to the cell with the formula it doesn't. Now I have Vlookups with formula's, that bring up random numbers before, and it has worked fine. I have also try to name the cell and have the information from that cell put into another one. I have tried to fool it a million different ways to try to make it think that there is no formula in the field, but it still keeps giving me an error.

Does anyone have any idea of why this is? The first part of the number is a date code, and when I extra just that, and to a vlookup it works fine... what am I missing?

thanks

IT's probably treating the number as text and that's why it's not working... After you are done pulling out that number multiply it by 1 and try it again.

Hope that helps..
John

Thanks John... can't believe i was stupid enough not to think of that one... to easy... :-)