it looks like it is a cell reference instead of an actual column number.
=IF(VLOOKUP(G$6,input,$AD100)=0,"-",VLOOKUP(G$6,input,$AD100))

Yes, that's correct.

Cell AD100 should hold the column number that you want the lookup to extract
the result from.

If "input" was the named range A1:C100 and AD100 was 3 the result of the
formula would come from column C. If AD100 was 2 the result would come from
column B.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Nate" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I'm trying to update the Column Index in a VLOOKUP formula contained in a
file that I received from a former co-worker. The problem is that I'm not
familiar with the format that they're using for the column index number,
it
looks like it is a cell reference instead of an actual column number. The
formula is:

=IF(VLOOKUP(G$6,input,$AD100)=0,"-",VLOOKUP(G$6,input,$AD100))

I know that they're using a defined name range for the array - it refers
to
another sheet in the same workbook, but I'm not sure how the column index
they're using operates. If there's anybody that's familiar with this and
can
explain how it works I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.