When i type in my VLOOKUP command as below:

=vlookup(B3,'[AMK_CALVIN Appendix.xls]Statewide Info'!$A$3:$M$130,2,false)

Excel just returns the exact text that is typed (including the equals sign,
etc.). In other words, its as though Excel does not see the equals sign.

I dont get and error, or #N/A, or #VALUE, or any other normal thing that
would indicate i have done somehting wrong with my command. Furthermore,
this worked just yesterday. I did exactly the same thing in the same cell,
from the same table_array, and it worked. Now it wont.

any thoughts?