using defined array names from a cell containing text of just the array name

hi i was wondering if there was a way to use cells containing just text of the name of an array (previously defined by me) as the array to look in, within a vlookup?

ex. array name = cats_1
text within A1= cats_1

Is this in VBA or on a worksheet?

If it's a worksheet you could use INDIRECT(A1).

just a worksheet.

thanks for the reply!

how would i use the indirect function? i dont get the false/r1c1 or true/a1 part?

What exactly do you mean by 'defined array names'?

an array range that ive defined with a name?


ex. cats_1 = A1:A19

I don't know why you've mentioned A1, R1C1, TRUE, FALSE.

You can just use INDIRECT, you don't need anything else.

oh ok, thanks.

im having a cell reference problem now... i have the pivot table of data copied over to the same worksheet but i cant seem to get the reference right in a vlookup.

ex. named range = a1:a19 = cats_1
B1=cats_1

=vlookup(C1,indirect(B1),2,false)