Your table needs to include the result you are looking for, so it needs to span at least 17 columns.
Try:

=VLOOKUP(A310,[sls.xls]Detail!$A$271:$Q$296,17,False)

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"ufo_pilot" wrote in message
...
=VLOOKUP(A310,[sls.xls]Detail!$A$271:$A$296,17)
Workbook "CD" has the name COVER in A310 and a blank cell next to it in
column B (where I have placed the formula)
Another workbook (sls) column A has the name COVER, but provides the amount
for the cover between the rows of 271 to 296 in column 17.
what am I missing in order to get results?
Thanks for any help you may provide