Vlookup

Hi

I have two spreadsheets with archive box information. one has 8000 entries the other has 4000 entries.

they both have a coloumn that has bacode number

the one with 8000 entries has "add date" and "alt ref" and I need to get this data into the 4000 entry spreadsheet

am I right in thinking it's vlookup? the formulas I tried just gives "N/A" but I know the barcodes are there as I have searched a few individually

is the formula not working because the number may be duplicated in the table??

please help

thanks
alanna