Combining =left and vlookup - not working, as expected

[Mr2017]

Hi

I need to limit the number of characters that I'm getting from a vlookup formula.

The current formula is

=IFERROR(IF(F3="","",VLOOKUP(F3,'Data'!E:F,2,FALSE)),"") and it brings back the right result.

But I need to add an =LEFT formula, so it only takes the first 50 characters.

I've tried this

=IFERROR(IF(F3="","",left(VLOOKUP(F3,'Data'!E:F,2,FALSE)),50,""))

But I got an error message saying

"You've entered too many arguments for this function."

I've tested using the =LEFT without the IFERROR function and it worked.

In Sheet 1 of a new workbook,

if you have the words "SKU" and "Descr" in cells A1 and B1, respectively, then the number 1234 in cell A2 (you can copy and paste the data below into those cells in Sheet 1)

[TABLE="width: 381"]
<colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]SKU[/TD]
[TD]Descr[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1234[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

Then in Sheet 2 of the same workbook, copy and past the data below into cell A1

[TABLE="width: 428"]
<colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]SKU[/TD]
[TD]Descr[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1234[/TD]
[TD]Breyers Delights Chocolate Orange Crunch Ice Cream 500Ml[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

If you then paste this formula into cell B2 of Sheet 1, the formula will return the correct result AND limit the characters in the cell to 50 (by taking out the "ML" at the end of the description.

=LEFT(VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!A:B,2,FALSE),50)

So I'm baffled as to why doesn't it work in my original example with the IFERROR function above/below!?

=IFERROR(IF(F3="","",left(VLOOKUP(F3,'Data'!E:F,2,FALSE)),50,""))

Can anyone please help?

 

[Special-K99]

Try

=IFERROR(IF(F3="","",left(VLOOKUP(F3,'Data'!E:F,2,FALSE),50),""))

 

[Mr2017]

Hi Special K-99

When I try that formula, I still get the "You've entered too many arguments for this function" error message....

Any other ideas, please?

 

[Special-K99]

This should work

=IFERROR(IF(F3="","",LEFT(VLOOKUP(F3,'Data'!E:F,2,FALSE),50)),"")

 

[Mr2017]

Ok, yes - that works.

Thanks