The LEFT function returns a TEXT value.

A1 = 12345 (a numeric value)

=LEFT(A1,2) returns the TEXT value 12. That is not the same as the numeric
value 12. VLOOKUP doesn't evaluate TEXT numbers and numeric numbers as being
equal so you get #N/A.

Add 2 dashes in front of the LEFT function like this:

=VLOOKUP(INDEX(--LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G9),Brackets!A2: F5,6)

The dashes, known as a double unary minus, will coerce the TEXT number into
a numeric number.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"TG" wrote in message
...
ok so my problem is when using
=VLOOKUP(INDEX(LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G 9),Brackets!A2:F5,6)it
returns a #NA. Where INDEX(LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G9) returns a
12!

If i were to put a number 12 instead of
"INDEX(LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G9)" then the vlookup function
works
as intended.

in other words if i were to just type in
=INDEX(LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G9) in a cell it will return a
value
of 12, so why does it not work on vlookup.

another thing i have tried is to put
=INDEX(LEFT(reference!G3:G7,2),reference!G9) in lets say Cell A5, it will
return a value of 12 and then i would link this cell to the vlookup fomula
like below:
=VLOOKUP(reference!A5,Brackets!A2:F5,6) and even though "reference!A5"
returns a value of 12, the vlookup function does not work it gives a #N/A.
may this be because Vlookup cannot nest to many references??

Thanks in advance
TG