Can Vlookup return values in different font colors?

[wlsnoops]

Hello,
I use excel 2003 at work.
We have over 12,000 items from various suppliers and use the vlookup function to pull up our items and pricing.

Is there a way to have the values returned in a different colored font based on the supplier.

For example:
Widgets are supplied from the Acme Corporation:
12x9 Widget $1.00

Gadgets are supplied from XYZ Company
8x12 Gadget $2.00

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks in advance.
...Will

[MarvinP]

Could you Vlookup and transfer the supplier name in one column and the price next to it. That way you could conditonal format the supplier name with different colors.

I don't believe you can do what you want without a VBA script.

[wlsnoops]

Hi Marvin,
Thanks for the reply.
I don't think I explained myself too well in my original post. The same item can come from various suppliers, but it is assigned the same part number.

The solution is probably for us to assign different part numbers based on the supplier. Getting the company to accept this fact is going to be a hard sell as they are very resistant to change. (A few of the computers still use Windows 98.)

Thanks again for your input, though.

[MarvinP]

Why don't you build an Indexing Column where you append the supplier name to your part number.

So from Acme your part number is 144, you make this 144Acme in your spreadsheet.
From P&G your part number is 144 and you make this 144P&G in your spreadsheet.

Does that help any?

[wlsnoops]

Yep, I see what you mean. Now if I can just convince the powers-that-be.

[martindwilson]

"the powers that be" put stuff on a different worksheet, hide it they will never know!

[MarvinP]

Hey Martin,

I didn't know you were sneeky. I once had a boss who couldn't read a simple graph. It showed my group making great progress but I knew I was in deep trouble when he didn't know the x axis from the y.

This guy also wanted the 4 regions to show in non - alpha order and wouldn't accept the software I was using didn't allow that.