When I use your formula:
=VLOOKUP(3,TABLE,2,FALSE)
it works as you intend and returns "C".

The only way to make VLOOKUP search from the bottom, as you describe, is to
use this version:
=VLOOKUP(3,TABLE,2,-1)

What version of Excel are you using? Perhaps the rules are different in your
version.

Does that help?

***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP-Pro


"Max" wrote:

Assume I have a table as follows:

1 A
2 B
3 C
3 Ca
3 Cb
4 D

Currently, if I use =VLOOKUP(3,TABLE,2,FALSE) I'll get "Cb" as a return.
Anyway I can force VLOOKUP to return the first hit, i.e. "C"?

--
Thanks!
Max