Try it like this:

=SUMIF(INDIRECT(VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2,0)), N52,curltl45)

Note however, this will not work if the named range curlpt45 is defined
using functions like OFFSET and INDEX.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Monty" wrote in message
...
=SUMIF(curlpt45,N52,curltl45)
this is the final formula but the array names need swapped out with the
value derived from =VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2) which should be the
value
"curlpt45" because U51 contains the number 45

for example
=SUMIF(=VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2),N52,=VLOOKU P(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2))

I have been manually typing in the curlpt45 into the formula. when the age
group changes in U column then the curlpt## has to change to match for the
formula to calculate the correct value from the SUMIF.

=INDIRECT(VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2,0)) returned 100 and it should
have
been curlpt45



"T. Valko" wrote:

How do you intend to use the array name? How is the array defined?

If the VLOOKUP returns a text string that represents a defined name this
is
how you need to express it:

INDIRECT(VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2))


--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Monty" wrote in message
...
i have a spread sheet with array names in each cell

I have a working formula to retrieve the correct array name


The question
=VLOOKUP(U51,MFFC!$A$2:$M$11,2)

U51 is the cell for an age group (17)
the spread sheet MFFC has the age groups starting the row and the
cells
contain array names.

curlup pushups run swim bike eliptical
17 curlpt17 curltl17 pupt17 putl17 runpt17 runtl17 swimpt17 swimtl17
bikept17 biketl17 elippt17 eliptl17

the problem is that once retrieved, i cannot get the function to use
the
array name because it is deemed as just text and not recognized as a
valid
array name.

this is the last step to automate my form and it is proving formidable.
my
only other alternative is to cut and paste the formula from another
matching
cell.


.