Excel array vlookup not working when using list separators other than comma

Copper Contributor

I am experiencing problems with a vlookup array in Excel, O365.

My current Excel version where array vlookups are broken:

PaulJ68_3-1652361770976.png

I have tested on a colleague's PC where array vlookups work correctly:

PaulJ68_4-1652361825545.png

 

Note that I have set the list separator to a pipe symbol, but the problem also occurs if the list separator is a semi-colon.

 

To demonstrate:

Firstly;

An array vlookup eg =VLOOKUP(A3|Ref!A3:D4|{2,3}|FALSE) returns duplicate values of the first return value in consecutive cells for the same row: ie the "b" and "c" in col3 should be different, not repeats of col2

PaulJ68_0-1652360024618.png

 

Secondly;

When an attempt is made to return more than two values in the array eg =VLOOKUP(A2|Ref!A2:D4|{2,3,4}|FALSE), then Excel no longer recognises the array formula

PaulJ68_1-1652360214376.png

The Ref sheet is as follows:

PaulJ68_2-1652360297044.png

Standard vlookup (one return value) works properly.

 

Lastly;

When setting the Excel decimal separator to a period instead of a comma, the list separator automatically gets set to a comma for formulas and then the array vlookup works correctly.

However, I have used the pipe list separator in Excel for the last 5 years and never had this problem with array vlookups before.

 

So it appears that the latest build (15128.20210) of O365 Excel doesnt handle non-comma list separators correctly, where previous builds had no problem.

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