Using VBA to perform Vlookup on an external workbook from Word

Question

I can't get an external workbook to use Vlookup to return the value of a different column.

I am trying to take a word document, enter an ID number into a text box, have vlookup find the ID number in an external document then return a name from the next column. Then the name will populate a different textbox and the date the number was entered will go in a third box. Right now EMPID.txt has only two columns A: EmpNum and B: EmpName.

Private Sub VerID_LostFocus()

    Dim emp_number As String
    Dim xlApp As Excel.Workbook

    Set xlApp = Excel.Workbooks.Open("filepath\EmpID.xlsx")

    emp_number = VerID.Text

    MsgBox emp_number

    On Error Resume Next

    result = Excel.WorksheetFunction.VLookup(emp_number, xlApp.Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A:B"), 2, False)
    On Error GoTo 0

    If result <> "" Then MsgBox result

    MsgBox result

    VerSig.Text = result

    Set xlApp = Nothing

    VerDate.Value = Format(Date, "mm/dd/yyyy")

End Sub

emp_number get assigned and shows as the value in a message box but nothing gets returned or assigned to result. The date is updated in the third textbox anytime the first "lost focus".

Answer 1

WorksheetFunction works with Application Object, Since You already declared XlApp as Workbook change the line to

Result = xlApp.Application.WorksheetFunction.VLookup(emp_number, Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A:B"), 2, False)  

and it is working. Also if emp_number is entered as Number in the workbook, then make the following changes

Dim emp_number As Variant 
'
'
'
'
emp_number = Val(VerID.Text)