IF,THEN FORMULA with VLOOKUP

**storey** · 04-11-2012, 07:08 PM

Hello,
I am trying to take two different spreadsheets and based on 3 conditions place a value into a cell. The criteria would be to match MRN# in Master Sheet to MRN# in Lab Values and if true, then check if month and year are true and do a vlookup to place the lab value in the Master Sheet for that MRN# under the correct Month/YearScore column. I have tried several combinations of IF(AND(), VLookup) but always get #N/A. I have attached a sample spreadsheet with two sheets that represent my data sets. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

**FDibbins** · 04-11-2012, 07:53 PM

Try the attached. I made a small change to your master sheet - split the date from the description - to simplify the search. Also, added a helper col to your Lab Values sheet for the same reason. Unless you need the year and month col for other things, you dont need them for these calcs.

I also did the calcs 2 ways...the 1st by moving the "values" to the right of the helper (I guess i could have put the helper to the left of the values?). this way, you can use a simple vlookup. the other way was using index/match for if you cant move the "values"

Let me know how this works for you, and if there is any other way I can help

**storey** · 04-12-2012, 12:33 PM

Hello,
Thanks for the help on this. I think you are on the right track however I don't understand how there will ever be a true match between the helper col value and the "MRN&Year-Month" cell because one is comparing m/d/y to y/m. I tried changing my helper value on Lab results to y/m by concantenating the Year & Month column however I never get the same value when formatted as general. I tried setting the date in the lab results to month/year and formatting to yyyyy-mm but still do not get the same value. I will keep working on this but thought you might have an insight.

I kept working and now have got it by changing my lab results to the same date as the helper date on the Master sheet.

Thanks

**FDibbins** · 04-12-2012, 03:23 PM

in the helper col i am adding your MRN to the date, as you noted. the serial number for a specific date stays the same, no matter what. so the serial number for todays date (april 12 2012) will always be 41011. this makes it a unique identifier for that day, which, when added to your MRN number, gives you a unique value you can search on. it may only display the d/m in the cell, but thats only because it is formatted that way...the actual value IN the cell is m/d/y, which then becomes a unique value.

many people get confused when looking at the value "shown" in a cell, by the actual "entry" in that cell. mostly what you see if how a value is formatted to look, not what it actually is in the cell. I tested my formual a few times, and it worked every time, so if you cant get it to work, let me know

Hope this helps, ask if you have any more questions