VLOOKUP question

[goodmachine]

The table array that contains the data I want to look up has some items that have leading 0's, alphanumeric and only numbers. The data is stored as text, so excel is returning the number is formatted as text error. Because of this error, some of the data items are not getting picked up when I execute my VLOOKUP.

I could format the cells to numbers, but then I lose the leading zeros that I want to keep. If the leading zeros are lost, then SKU id integrity is gone.

How can I get my VLOOKUP to work for all of the items in the table array if the values are stored as text?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Brian from Maui]

is your cell that houses the lookup value formatted as text?

 

[Blade Hunter]

Vlookup works on text, I use it against UPC's all the time. Can you post some sample data?