Have a look in help at VLOOKUP
See also
http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/exc...320vlookup.htm
http://www.timeatlas.com/5_Minute_Ti...OOKUP_in_Excel
Then come back if more help is needed
best wishes
--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme

"RockCounter" wrote in message
...
I am using Excel 2007. I need to match an alpha numeric value from one
workbook with the same alpha numeric in a different workbook and have the
formula return the data in the cell adjacent (right side) to the matched
cell. The data in the second workbook will be in a different row each
time I
run it, but the column will be the same. The alpha numeric character to
look
up is in Column D. The data I want to show up is in Column E. Here is an
example:

Data to match: "43005.60 Total"

I want to go to the second workbook, look for "43005.60 Total" (Column D)
and have it give me the $$$ that are shown in Column E.

To make matters more complicated, the files are on different network
drives
and the formulas need to be dummy proof for multiple beginning Excel
users.

I am hoping one of the brilliant forum members here can help me out. You
all seem to know everything about Excel!