I know a thread for the information I need exists somewhere buy I can not for the life of me find it.
Is it possible to use the index/match function for an entire external workbook? For example, I want to lookup a cell from "Sheet 1- Workbook 1" throughout multiple sheets in an entirely different workbook "Sheets 1-10 Workbook 2" and return a corresponding value from Workbook 2.
Any help on this would be much appreciated.
Most (if not all) lookups (VLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH) across multiple sheets involve the use of INDIRECT. However.... Here's the snag. INDIRECT only works when the target sheet is OPEN. There is a VBA work-around, but it would be easier to implement on an Excel sheet.
So...
Will you please attach a SMALL sample Excel workbook (10-20 rows of data is usually enough)? Please don't attach a picture of one (no-one will want to re-type all your stuff before starting).
1. Make sure that your sample data are truly REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.
2. Make sure that your desired solution is also shown (mock up the results manually).
3. Make sure that all confidential information is removed first!!
4. Try to avoid using merged cells. They cause lots of problems!
Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment. So, to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: Just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.
Glenn
None of us get paid for helping you... we do this for fun. So DON'T FORGET to say "Thank You" to all who have freely given some of their time to help YOU
Glenn,
Thank you for getting back to me. Unfortunately, many of the sheets in each workbook have merged cells so I believe it will be a problem. Nonetheless, I have attached 2 workbooks to this post. The workbook labled "Test Workbook Return" is the workbook I will be entering the function intro to return values. The workbook labeled "Test Workbook Find will be the workbook I am searching to find the values.
I need to find the lookup value highlighted in orange from "Test Workbook Return" in the entire workbook of "Test Workbook Find". Once the lookup value is found on a sheet in "Test Workbook Find", I need to return 2 values"
First the value in the merged cell Row 14-15 Columns C-H. In this case is 777 in on sheet Bay Shelf Info 1.
Second, I need to return the cell to the left of the found lookup value.
I hope this makes sense. Please let me know if you have any questions.
On this occasion the merged cells aren't too big a nuisance. The big issue is whether or not the source file will be open or closed. I know how to do multiple sheet lookups and to lookup closed sheets. But I'm not sure if it's possible (for me) to combine them. So...
Is the source sheet open or closed when the lookup is being run on the return sheet?
I was hoping the source sheet would be closed. There are a couple hundred workbooks I will have to go through and I would like to refrain from opening each one to do the lookup. If it is not possible to lookup on a closed workbook then no problem whatever you have will work!
I have something that NEARLY works. However, nearky working isnt much different from "doesn't work ". I fiddled with it for an hourvor so earlier and I'll have another go in the morning.
Frustration level is high....
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