how to write a lookup function without a "lookup vector" column

Some time ago I saw a way to write a lookup function without using a designated column for the "lookup vector". The person was somehow using row numbers to create a virtual lookup vector without needing a special column filled with values for it. Something like this: =lookup(12,$A:$A,C1:C20). Could someone remind me how to do this? Thanks.

What you have will return the value in C corresponding to the same row in A that contains 12....

Hi Glenn,

What I am trying to do is not have any values in column A - perhaps I posted a bad example. The way that I saw this being done is the lookup "vector" did not actually exist in excel. The person had an entry in the portion of the function that used row numbers, not values entered into cells.

Sounds like you are looking for

=LOOKUP(12,$A:$A,ROW(A:A))

which returns the same as
=MATCH(12,$A:$A,0)
Is that it? If not, upload an example spreadsheet (Go Advanced>Manage Attachments) with an example or 2

Ok, thank you both. Chemist, I repositioned the interior of yours and looks like it works:

=LOOKUP(12,ROW(A:A),$C1:$C20)

this does not require me to create a lookup vector. So if I want to get the 12th value of "result vector" (in cells C1 through C20), it gives it to me without having to have column A, for example, filled with values 1 through 20 that act as a "lookup vector".

Thanks!

Hey Junmo - I only just now saw your reply. That's the easiest one by far - thanks!