If you *actually* have a data list set up as you posted, where the cells are
populated:
A1 = empty
B1 = A
C1 = B
D1 = CC - (for some reason "C" is reserved)

AND

A2 = X
A3 - Y
A4 = Z

*AND*
<Tools <Options <Calculation tab,
"Accept Labels In Formulas"
*IS* checked,

THEN
=Y B
*WILL* return a 3

This is called the "intersection operator" and is simply a <Space.
(Notice <space between Y & B)

So that:
=Y B*Z CC
Will return 27

Just as:
=B Y+CC Z
Will return 12

--

HTH,

RD
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Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
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"Tony" wrote in message
...
In a spreadsheet as exampled below how can I get Excel to look up a
particular reference and use that in a calculation?

e.g.
A B C
X 4 6 7
Y 2 3 6
Z 7 4 9

So if I had entered in one cell YB it would use the value at their
intersection (3 in this case) in further calculations?

Hope someone can help. Thanks.

Tony
--
Tony