fighting excel 2007 with the OFFSET function 1

[TFlanagan]

Good afternoon. I am trying to use the OFFSET function to get the value of a cell that is one row above a reference cell. I am using several nested formulas - address, match, vlookup - which return the intended reference cell. That is, what I have built so far returns, for example, $E$40. The next layer I am trying to add is:
=OFFSET((formulas that return $E$40),-1,0)

And excel says 'The formula you typed contains an error'.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[Gruuuu]

If you are returning a string "$E$40", you need to wrap it in an INDIRECT()
[tt]
=OFFSET(INDIRECT(Whatever returns "$E$40"),-1,0)
[/tt]

 

[TFlanagan]

Wow, I think that's got it. Thank you.