Using cell value as table array value in VLOOKUP (No Macro) - excel

Question

Cell value of B6 = 'Trading Income
=VLOOKUP(B6,'\\myComp.myComp.com\abc\Treas\P&L\data\[DataUS.xls]Smith, Bob'!$A$1:$D$2000,2,FALSE)
This returns (5,555,529.00)
However, say I wanted to place
'\\myComp.myComp.com\abc\Treas\P&L\data\[DataUS.xls]Smith, Bob'!$A$1:$D$2000
in a cell (Lets say B7). How would I structure the VLOOKUP?
I tried:
VLOOKUP(B6, B7, 2, FALSE)
And it returns #N/A
Thank you

Answer 1

Try
=VLOOKUP(B6;'\\myComp.myComp.com\abc\Treas\P&L\data\[DataUS.xls]Smith, Bob'!$A$1:$D$2000;2;FALSE)

Answer 2

You have to use INDIRECT, see this.
In your case, use INDIRECT(B7) instead of B7.

Answer 3

Try this:
=VLOOKUP(B6, INDIRECT(B7), 2, FALSE)
Just ensure that cell B7 contains the exact path i.e. written exactly in the same manner it is written in the formula.

Answer 4

Now adding macros doe
sn't really increase the level of complexity, at least I have not seen any case as yet. On the contrary a macro, if done correctly, increase efficiency,
dependency and certainty of the results.
I suggest this solution which includes macros, provides the simplicity and flexibility of building the link to external data using a Name to hold the External Reference created using user input, which is split in the different parts of the external link to make it easier changes i.e. Path, Filename, Worksheet and Range.
This includes the creation of five Names to handle the linked formula, here is when you might feel like you got it right when mentioning “increasing the level of complexity”, however we can use the power and flexibility of macros not only to produce the expected outcome in a report, analysis, etc.; but also to build forms, reports, graphs, data, etc. and by using macros it also eliminates the need for insanity checks, which at times make us insane, providing and excellent tool to reinstate, review and even change the parameters of large projects when required.
The code provided below includes the creation of the Names, also the refresh the Name that holds the External Link Reference once the user changes any part of the external reference in the worksheet.
First we run this code to create the names (copy this in a module)
Option Explicit
Option Base 1
Sub FmlLnk_WshAddNames()
Const kRowIni As Byte = 2
Const kCol As Byte = 3
Const kWshTrg As String = "Sht(1)"
Dim aNames As Variant
aNames = fNames_Get
Dim WshTrg As Worksheet
Dim bRow As Byte
Dim b As Byte
Set WshTrg = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(kWshTrg)
With WshTrg
For b = 1 To UBound(aNames)
bRow = IIf(b = 1, kRowIni, 1 + bRow)
.Names.Add Name:=aNames(b), RefersTo:=.Cells(bRow, kCol)
.Names(aNames(b)).Comment = "Name to create link to external range"
Next: End With
End Sub
Function fNames_Get() As Variant
fNames_Get = Array("_Path", "_Filename", "_Worksheet", "_Range")
End Function
Now that the Names to hold the parts of the external link are created we add the worksheet event to automatically update the name holding the External Link Reference (see https://msdn.microsoft.com/EN-US/library/office/ff198331.aspx)
To go to the event procedures for the Worksheet that contains the formula right-click the sheet tab and click “View Code” on the shortcut menu.
Copy the code below in the Worksheet code
Option Explicit
Option Base 1
Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal RngTrg As Range, bCancel As Boolean)
Const kFmlLnk As String = "_FmlLnk"
Dim aNames As Variant, vName As Variant
aNames = fNames_Get
Dim WshThs As Worksheet
Dim bLnkExt As Boolean
Dim sLnkExt As String
Set WshThs = RngTrg.Worksheet
With WshThs
Application.Goto .Cells(1), 1
Rem Validate ActiveCell
bLnkExt = False
For Each vName In aNames
If .Names(vName).RefersToRange.Address = RngTrg.Address Then
bLnkExt = True
Exit For
End If: Next
Rem Reset Name Link External
If bLnkExt Then
Rem Built External Formula Link
sLnkExt = "=" & Chr(39) & .Names(aNames(1)).RefersToRange.Value2 & _
"[" & .Names(aNames(2)).RefersToRange.Value2 & "]" & _
.Names(aNames(3)).RefersToRange.Value2 & Chr(39) & Chr(33) & _
.Names(aNames(4)).RefersToRange.Value2
Rem Add External Formula Link Name
.Names.Add Name:=kFmlLnk, RefersTo:=sLnkExt
.Names(kFmlLnk).Comment = "Name to link external range in Formula"
End If: End With
End Sub
This procedure will run every time the users double-clicks in any of the four Names created in the worksheets that holds the External Link Formula
The Formula to use the external link name is:
=VLOOKUP($B9,_FmlLnk,3,0)