When using the VLOOKUP function in Excel, if the numbers pulled down appear equal, it may be due to several reasons:
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Data Consistency: The values being looked up might be consistent across rows, causing the same result to display each time.
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Absolute References: If the formula uses absolute references (e.g., $A$1), Excel will reference the same cell for all rows, leading to identical results.
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Hidden Characters or Formatting: Invisible characters or formatting issues in the lookup range might cause VLOOKUP to misbehave, returning the same value repeatedly.
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Lookup Table Structure: If the table array contains duplicate entries or is not structured properly, VLOOKUP might return the same result for multiple rows.
Solution Steps:
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Review Formula References: Ensure the formula uses relative references correctly by checking for absolute references and converting them if necessary.
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Check Data for Hidden Characters: Inspect the data range for any hidden spaces or characters that might affect the lookup results.
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Verify Lookup Table Structure: Confirm that the lookup table is free of duplicates and properly structured to return accurate, varied results.
By addressing these potential issues, you can resolve the problem of identical numbers appearing when using VLOOKUP.