VLOOKUP Not Showing Result ?

[Aitch]

It's a pretty simple function - just look down the column range and display the cell that is not blank...

=VLOOKUP("?*",A2:A12,1,0)

It works when there is text in the cell - but gives an error when the cell shows a number?

What is the fix?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Peter_SSs]

It's a pretty simple function - just look down the column range and display the cell that is not blank...

If there is only one not blank then
=SUM(A2:A12)

Otherwise try
=INDEX(A2:A12,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(A2:A12<>"",0),0))

 

[ClaireS]

If you know that you have an entry, but it could be text or number, then:
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]=IFERROR(VLOOKUP("?*",A2:A12,1,0),MAX(A2:A12))[/FONT]

 

[Aitch]

Thank you! I'd have never thought of using SUM or MAX - even though it's so obvious lol!

Is there a specific reason why VLOOKUP doesn't play well with numbers?

 

[Peter_SSs]

Thank you! I'd have never thought of using SUM or MAX - even though it's so obvious lol!

You're welcome.

Is there a specific reason why VLOOKUP doesn't play well with numbers?

Being in quotes, your lookup value "?*" is specifically saying it is a Text value that you are looking for.