Hello.Thanks for considering my post. I am using the MATCH function to find
different numerical values within a large number of columns.The columns are
named with an underscore followed by a number : ( _1..._2..._3...).The
column that is chosen to be searched is determined by a random number
generated using the RANDBETWEEN function. I am typing the column name that
is randomly chosen into the range argument for the MATCH function but this
is woefully inadequate.But when I use the ampersand character to combine an
underscore with the randomly chosen column number as the range argument for
MATCH, I get an error ( VALUE!) .I know this is because it recognizes this
as text instead of a number.

How might I rename the columns or in some way get MATCH to recognize these
ranges? Thank you.

Look in HELP for the INDIRECT() function

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Kind Regards,

Niek Otten

Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Roger H." wrote in message
...
Hello.Thanks for considering my post. I am using the MATCH function to
find different numerical values within a large number of columns.The
columns are named with an underscore followed by a number : (
_1..._2..._3...).The column that is chosen to be searched is determined by
a random number generated using the RANDBETWEEN function. I am typing the
column name that is randomly chosen into the range argument for the MATCH
function but this is woefully inadequate.But when I use the ampersand
character to combine an underscore with the randomly chosen column number
as the range argument for MATCH, I get an error ( VALUE!) .I know this is
because it recognizes this as text instead of a number.

How might I rename the columns or in some way get MATCH to recognize these
ranges? Thank you.

Perhaps try something like:
=MATCH("_"&randbetween(1,26),A1:Z1,0)
which would then find a random match for the column names:
_1, _2, ...., _25, _26
--
Rgds
Max
xl 97
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GMT+8, 1° 22' N 103° 45' E
xdemechanik <atyahoo<dotcom
----
"Roger H." wrote in message
...
Hello.Thanks for considering my post. I am using the MATCH function to
find
different numerical values within a large number of columns.The columns
are
named with an underscore followed by a number : ( _1..._2..._3...).The
column that is chosen to be searched is determined by a random number
generated using the RANDBETWEEN function. I am typing the column name
that
is randomly chosen into the range argument for the MATCH function but this
is woefully inadequate.But when I use the ampersand character to combine
an
underscore with the randomly chosen column number as the range argument
for
MATCH, I get an error ( VALUE!) .I know this is because it recognizes this
as text instead of a number.

How might I rename the columns or in some way get MATCH to recognize these
ranges? Thank you.