when i use VLookUp, i get the data from the cell in another workbook - but
how do i get the formats? is there a numerical equivalent to shades of color
in the cells so i can generate a number in one book, bring the number into
the other, and turn it back to a color shade in the cell?

You could do what you propose with a macro, but a formula can only
return a result - not a format.

Hope this helps.

Pete