LOOKUP vs IF (Need help)

Good day to all, I’ve seen this forum a lot when I search for excel tips and decided to register because I got a good question regarding the Lookup IF function.

I do a lot of repeated work and I’m trying to simplify most of it.

Normally I use this Lookup in order to copy data from another sheet or spreadsheet that has a unique value (false) in order to obtain the information.

Example:

Sheet 1 – Spreadsheet
• A=Reference Number
• B=Estimated Cost
• C=Text of subject

A = 123 B= $20.00 C= Salaries

Now what I’m trying to do is

Sheet 2 – Spreadsheet (Same layout but different file)
• A=Reference Number
• B=Estimated Cost
• C=Text of subject

Now to get the data of the C to my new “updated report” with matching the Reference number I usually do something like this, =VLOOKUP(A2, Sheet1!A:C, 3, FALSE)

What I’m trying to mix with the IF function, I want it to automatically search IF for “Reference Number” then get the data below” and start the v look up from the other sheet.

Fake example cause it doesn’t work! But will give you an idea of what I’m trying to do.

=IF(1:1, 'Reference Number' = +1, false),(VLOOKUP(A2, Sheet1!A:C, 3, FALSE)

Maybe there is a better way?

Thank for your help in reviewing this post,

Bass