vlookup returns 0 and 1900 date in range of cells when only 1 has been filled in.

[GodzFire]

I have the following setup: Each of my cells does a vlookup for a matching record in either of 2 other source data tabs. If it finds a match, it puts them in the associated cells. When the Date Replaced cell is filled in with a date, an 'x' is entered into the associated S column, via a conditional formatting formula.

Discovered problem: If someone enters just 1-3 of the 4 pieces of information in one of the 2 other source data tabs but leave the others blank, Excel will still fill the remaining ones left, but with either 0s for text and 1900 for date, which then triggers the conditional formatting and puts the 'x' in column S when it shouldn't. I'm not sure how to make it so the other ones don't trigger / stay blank until something is actually inputted into them.

Here are my forumulas. Also if there is a better formula to accomplish what I am trying to do, I am totally open.
O: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,3,FALSE),VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,3,FALSE))
P: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,1,FALSE),VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,1,FALSE))
Q: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,2,FALSE),VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,2,FALSE))
R: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,4,FALSE),VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,4,FALSE))
S: =IF(ISNUMBER(R144),"x","")

 

[etaf]

IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,3,FALSE),VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,3,FALSE))
if the first vlookup returns an errror them it will do the error lookup
and if that is an error

use another iferror

IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C144,FYInv!L:O,3,FALSE),iferror(VLOOKUP(C144,'FY18 Ref'!L:O,3,FALSE),""))

 

[GodzFire]

It's still filling in the other fields if only a single cell has information entered:

 

[etaf]

there maybe a better way
but perhaps an IF testing the previous cell for a zero, would zero be a valid entry though ?

 

[GodzFire]

There would never be a 0 for an entry for any of the columns.

 

[etaf]

how does the result from vlookup return a zero?, should be n/a unless some entries are valid but the lookup is blank
is that the case in your example post 3

 

[GodzFire]

That's correct, that's the issue I am running into. If say only one field from O-R is filled in, but the rest are left blank, it will fill the rest in with 0/1900 which it shouldn't.

 

[GodzFire]

Anyone with thoughts?

 

[etaf]

i'm sure there id a much better way
BUT testing for a result of zero from the lookup
=IF(IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,H1:J4,3,FALSE),IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,H1:J4,3,FALSE),""))=0,"",IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,H1:J4,3,FALSE),IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,H1:J4,3,FALSE),"")))

 

[GodzFire]

I guess I'm a little confused. How does the above formula look at the two other tabs for data? I don't see FYInv and 'FY18 Ref' anymore in the formula.