Excel Help Vlookup

**lostandinneedofhelp** · 05-09-2013, 01:51 PM

Hello, I am in dire need of some help regarding the Vlookup.

I have tried to compile a worksheet that when my coworker inputs a "short code" for the product the description would automatically populate. Thereby saving a considerable amount of time and frustration.

So thus far I have the description cell with the function as follows, =VLOOKUP(Sheet1!$F16,Sheet6!A1:B50698,1,FALSE)

I am trying to reference the adjacent "code" cell and have the "description" cell then populate according to the data inputted.

Attached is the document simplified. Currently I am getting a #NA in the cell.

I thank you for your time with this matter as it has been a pain in the rear..

**FDibbins** · 05-09-2013, 01:56 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum

Try this instead...
=INDEX(Sheet6!$A:$A,MATCH(Sheet1!$F16,Sheet6!$B:$B,0),1)

vlookup cannot return values to the left of what you are looking for...it cannot look "behind itself"

**The_Snook** · 05-09-2013, 01:59 PM

Hi,

If you look at the changes I've made to your spreadsheet this should help you?

If you have any more queries just give me a shout.

Snook

**lostandinneedofhelp** · 05-09-2013, 02:01 PM

Thank you very much, I have tried to research this error i have made on this forum and have resorted to just asking. I thank you sincerely, this has made my day.

**lostandinneedofhelp** · 05-09-2013, 02:04 PM

Thank you very much Snook, this was a huge help as well. I owe you both big time.

**FDibbins** · 05-09-2013, 02:22 PM

Snook's suggestion of changing the columns around in sheet2 will work just fin in this situation

But there will be times when swapping columns around is not practical/possible - thats the time you will need to learn how to use the index/match that i suggested