Excel Formatting & VLOOKUP Automation

I have two existing Excel workbooks that hold mixed text-and-number datasets. I need them cleaned up, laid out consistently, and linked together so I can pull specific values from one sheet into the other with VLOOKUP (or an equivalent lookup function if you feel XLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH suits the task better).

Here is what I’m after:
• Standardise column order and cell formats on both sheets so the lookup range is crystal-clear.
• Build the lookup formulas that retrieve exactly the fields I specify.
• Apply conditional formatting that highlights the returned values—nothing flashy, just a clear visual cue that the data has come through correctly.
• Leave the file with formulas intact (no hard-coded outputs) and include a brief note explaining any named ranges or helper columns you introduce, so I can maintain the file myself later.

If you’ve wrangled mixed data before and can turn this around quickly, let’s get started.