lookup tables in cells

[Guest]

Hi all. I was wondering how to error trap inported data
that uses one column as a lookup. i.e., that column has
imported part numbers and the column next to it looks up a
discription for that part number in another worksheet and
displays it next to the imported part number. The problem
is if the part number and discription is not in the lookup
table, the cell unfortunately reverts to the previous cell
in the lookup table and displays it. It does not show an
error or something to indicate no match for that cell part
number in the discription cell. Any solutions?

 

[Trevor Shuttleworth]

what formula are you using for the lookup ?

Regards

Trevor

 

[Brad Gover]

The formula is
=LOOKUP(A5,Table!$A$1:$A$500,Table!$B$1:$B$500)

Cell A5 contains a number like 100236.
Worksheet "Table" cell range contains $A$1:$A$500 part
numbers in increasing order. Cell range $B$1:$B$500
contains the discriptions. Everything works fine until a
part number is imported that has no part number to
reference in the table. Appriciate any advice.

 

[CLR]

Try adding the last condition "FALSE" to your formula.........
for example: =VLOOKUP(A1,YourTable,2,FALSE)

it should then return the real thing or an error........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Trevor Shuttleworth]

Brad

the lookup should be:

=VLOOKUP(A5,Table!$A$1:$B$500,2,FALSE)

If there is no other data in the columns, you can shorten this to:

=VLOOKUP(A5,Table!$A:$B,2,FALSE)

Regards

Trevor

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Since the lookup table is sorted in ascending order on its first column,
the following would allow you exploit that fact...

=IF(LOOKUP(A5,Table!$A$1:$A$500)=A5,LOOKUP(A5,Table!$A$1:$B$500),"")

without unexpected return values.