Indirect / vlookup issue

[rojopeters]

Good Evening,

I am trying to complete a vlookup where the lookup value (B3) is a text cell that is updated from another database and thus changes. The vlookup in located in the same workbook as the the (B3) reference and the table array and column index refers to another workbook. Trying to add in an indirect function, but keep getting a #REF! return. Not sure if I am beating down the right path here. Here is the formula that is coming back incorrect. Please let me know if you need any more information. Thank you for any help!

=VLOOKUP(INDIRECT(B3),'[FootballOutsiders_TeamStats.xlsx]Offensive Drive'!$A$2:$J$33,10,0)

-Robert

 

[elmer007]

I'm not sure I understand the problem that you're trying to solve by using the INDIRECT function. Is there a value in cell B3 that is in the "FootballOutsiders_TeamStats" workbook, on the "Offensive Drive" tab, in the range A2:A33?

INDIRECT is a way of referencing a cell by a text string, so the following formula would mean "=A1":
=INDIRECT("A1")

Based on your question, I would assume that cell B3 has the text of a cell reference in it; something like "A1". So the VLOOKUP would use the value from A1 if the value in B3 is the text "A1".