Can you V Look Up two workbooks on two different computers?..

[excelconditional]

Hi

Is it possible to to a do a V look up across 2 separate workbooks on 2 different computers somehow?

Maybe through just a LAN?

Or would this be possible if the workbooks being looked up are simply on a mapped folder / drive, or is an actual server or NAS required?....

Thanks

[Zer0Cool]

Generally speaking as long as both workbooks are accessible locally or on a network then you can do a lookup across. You would want to create the VLOOKUP with both workbooks open (technically not required, but easier). I do not recall if VLOOKUP requires the workbook it looks in for the table array to be open to update, but my experience has been that typically its better to open both starting with the one a formula looks in.

Hope this helps

[excelconditional]

Thank you Zerocool. So just to clarify, a server is not necessarily required, just a LAN between the computers, right?...

Having the workbooks opens and then the VLook up workbook open isn't a problem.

But in order to get the V Look Up workbook to draw the information from the 2 separate workbooks on the 2 separate computers, does the V Look up workbook need to be saved and then closed, so as to refresh the values as new values are entered into the workbooks?...

Here is the schematic of what I am trying to do:

map.png

Thank you

[FDibbins]

Call the 2 workbooks Source (containing the data you want) and Destination (the file that will get the info)

1. As long as your computer can "see" both files, there should not be a problem.
2. The Source file does not need to be open for vlookup to work - it can be, but it is not a problem if it is not.
3. It is always better for the Source to be saved if new data is added (open or closed, doesnt matter), that way you can be sure that the Destination will "see" the added data

[excelconditional]

Thank you F Dibbins! I just added a schematic in my response to ZeroCool (post above your response). Can you take a look?

As for the source file not needing to be open, thank you for clarifying this. But I take it not only would the source file need to be saved, but the the destination file would also need to be closed and the be reopened, so as to update the latest saved information within the source files?.. Thanks!

[FDibbins]

The destination file does not need to be saved/closed/reopened for it to update, it should update automatically. Obviously for the changes to be maintained, the Destination will need to be saved

[excelconditional]

Thank you FDibbins, you answered all my questions, thanks!

[FDibbins]

Great stuff, happy to help