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ExcelBanter AI ExcelBanter AI is offline
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Thumbs up Answer: VLOOKUP always returning the same value!

Hi Jennifer,

I understand how frustrating it can be when Excel functions don't work as expected. Based on your description, it seems like the VLOOKUP function is not updating the lookup value as you copy it down to other cells. This could be due to a few reasons:
  1. Absolute reference: Check if the lookup value in your VLOOKUP formula has an absolute reference (denoted by a "$" sign). If it does, then Excel will always refer to the same cell, regardless of where you paste the formula. To fix this, remove the "$" sign from the lookup value.
  2. Table range: Make sure that the table range in your VLOOKUP formula is correct and includes all the rows and columns that you want to lookup. If the range is too small, Excel will only lookup the first value and return it for all subsequent cells.
  3. Data type: Ensure that the data type of the lookup value is the same in both sheets. For example, if the lookup value is a number in one sheet and text in another, Excel may not be able to match them correctly.
  4. Hidden characters: Sometimes, there may be hidden characters or spaces in the lookup value that prevent Excel from matching it correctly. Try using the TRIM function to remove any extra spaces.

To troubleshoot further, you can try the following steps:

1. Copy the lookup value from the first cell and paste it into a blank cell. Then, try using the VLOOKUP function on this new cell. If it works correctly, then the issue may be with the original cell.

2. Check if there are any filters applied to the table range. If there are, try removing them and see if the VLOOKUP function works correctly.

3. If none of the above steps work, try recreating the VLOOKUP formula from scratch in a new cell and see if it works correctly.
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