Help with a VLOOKUP formula

[JebeDaiaS]

Hello, this is my first post here, just need some help with explaining this expression:

=VLOOKUP(B3,'C:Documents and SettingsuserDesktop[ZA la 04.11.2011.xls]stocuri_04.11.2011_04.11.2011'!$B$2:$M$266,12,0)

The question is: "What number must be changed in order for the expression to take into account the third cell ?". This is where I don't really understand... what third cell ? I'm tempted to say the "12" must be changed into "3" (...!$B$2:$M$266,3,0) but I'm not sure if that's right. There's no example sheet, just the formula and the aforementioned question. Sorry if this seems stupid, but as you can guess I'm a n00b and I'd really appreciate some help, thanks !

[benishiryo]

welcome to the forum, JebeDaiaS. you are right about changing that. basically, the VLOOKUP formula has 4 parts to it:
lookup_value
this value is something that exist in both lists. normally, you want to look for this single value that exist in a long list of values under the next part; table_array

table_array
the first column of this must contain your lookup_value. in your case, it's somewhere in B2:B266. you also have to include more columns until the point where you can get what you want to return. if it's in column D, then you could change it to just:

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it's ok to retain your formula & just change it to 3 though

col_index_no
this is where you indicate which column number you want to return, based on your table_array. 1 means column B in your case, since you started the table_array from column B. 2 would mean column C & 3 would mean column D.

range_lookup
put a FALSE or 0 for an exact match. you just have to know this for now. putting TRUE, 1 or omitting it is another way of VLOOKUP not applicable to your case.

[JebeDaiaS]

Thanks benishiryo, I thought so myself, but I wasn't sure, that's why I asked for some help.

[arlu1201]

Based on your last post in this thread, its apparent that you are satisfied with the solution(s) you've received and have solved your question, but you haven't marked your thread as "SOLVED". I will do it for you this time.

In future, to mark your thread as Solved, you can do the following -
Select Thread Tools-> Mark thread as Solved.

Incase your issue is not solved, you can undo it as follows -
Select Thread Tools-> Mark thread as Unsolved.

Also, since you are relatively new to the forum, i would like to inform you that you can thank those who have helped you by clicking the small star icon located in the lower left corner of the post which helped you. This adds to the reputation of the person who has taken the time to help you.

[JebeDaiaS]

Thanks arlu1201, I meant to do that but forgot to get around to this thread again. In the future will do !