Hi,
I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names. How can i
run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences between
these 2 files?

sample content of the file:
computer1
computer2
computer3
computer4
..... and so on....

pls advice. thanks

You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see if there was a
match in the other:

One formula would look like this:

=ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))

(adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
workbook/worksheet)

Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at the first.

If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques (including macros):
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm

Lynn wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names. How can i
> run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences between
> these 2 files?
>
> sample content of the file:
> computer1
> computer2
> computer3
> computer4
> .... and so on....
>
> pls advice. thanks

--

Dave Peterson
(E-Mail Removed)

can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
instructions?

"Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see if there
was a
> match in the other:
>
> One formula would look like this:
>
> =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
>
> (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> workbook/worksheet)
>
> Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at the
first.
>
> If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques (including
macros):
> http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
>
> Lynn wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names. How
can i
> > run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences
between
> > these 2 files?
> >
> > sample content of the file:
> > computer1
> > computer2
> > computer3
> > computer4
> > .... and so on....
> >
> > pls advice. thanks
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson
> (E-Mail Removed)

When you say you can't get it to work, does that mean the formula returns an
error? Or can you not enter the formula at all?

Did you remember to change the workbook names and the sheet names ("my
book2.xls" and "sheet1" were probably not the names that you used.)

Maybe post back a little more detail.

Names of workbooks, names of worksheets in each workbook and what column the
data is in (for both worksheets).

Then post your attempt at each formula.



Lynn wrote:
>
> can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
> instructions?
>
> "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see if there
> was a
> > match in the other:
> >
> > One formula would look like this:
> >
> > =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> >
> > (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> > workbook/worksheet)
> >
> > Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at the
> first.
> >
> > If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques (including
> macros):
> > http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
> >
> > Lynn wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names. How
> can i
> > > run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences
> between
> > > these 2 files?
> > >
> > > sample content of the file:
> > > computer1
> > > computer2
> > > computer3
> > > computer4
> > > .... and so on....
> > >
> > > pls advice. thanks
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
> > (E-Mail Removed)

--

Dave Peterson
(E-Mail Removed)

sorry ..
i pasted ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
but when i hit enter nothing happens

"Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> When you say you can't get it to work, does that mean the formula returns
an
> error? Or can you not enter the formula at all?
>
> Did you remember to change the workbook names and the sheet names ("my
> book2.xls" and "sheet1" were probably not the names that you used.)
>
> Maybe post back a little more detail.
>
> Names of workbooks, names of worksheets in each workbook and what column
the
> data is in (for both worksheets).
>
> Then post your attempt at each formula.
>
>
>
> Lynn wrote:
> >
> > can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
> > instructions?
> >
> > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see if
there
> > was a
> > > match in the other:
> > >
> > > One formula would look like this:
> > >
> > > =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > >
> > > (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> > > workbook/worksheet)
> > >
> > > Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at the
> > first.
> > >
> > > If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques (including
> > macros):
> > > http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
> > >
> > > Lynn wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names.
How
> > can i
> > > > run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences
> > between
> > > > these 2 files?
> > > >
> > > > sample content of the file:
> > > > computer1
> > > > computer2
> > > > computer3
> > > > computer4
> > > > .... and so on....
> > > >
> > > > pls advice. thanks
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Dave Peterson
> > > (E-Mail Removed)
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson
> (E-Mail Removed)

Try starting the formula with an = (equal sign)

Remember to change the workbook name and the sheet name, too.

Lynn wrote:
>
> sorry ..
> i pasted ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> but when i hit enter nothing happens
>
> "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > When you say you can't get it to work, does that mean the formula returns
> an
> > error? Or can you not enter the formula at all?
> >
> > Did you remember to change the workbook names and the sheet names ("my
> > book2.xls" and "sheet1" were probably not the names that you used.)
> >
> > Maybe post back a little more detail.
> >
> > Names of workbooks, names of worksheets in each workbook and what column
> the
> > data is in (for both worksheets).
> >
> > Then post your attempt at each formula.
> >
> >
> >
> > Lynn wrote:
> > >
> > > can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
> > > instructions?
> > >
> > > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see if
> there
> > > was a
> > > > match in the other:
> > > >
> > > > One formula would look like this:
> > > >
> > > > =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > > >
> > > > (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> > > > workbook/worksheet)
> > > >
> > > > Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at the
> > > first.
> > > >
> > > > If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques (including
> > > macros):
> > > > http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
> > > >
> > > > Lynn wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer names.
> How
> > > can i
> > > > > run a script to compare the contents and list out the differences
> > > between
> > > > > these 2 files?
> > > > >
> > > > > sample content of the file:
> > > > > computer1
> > > > > computer2
> > > > > computer3
> > > > > computer4
> > > > > .... and so on....
> > > > >
> > > > > pls advice. thanks
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Dave Peterson
> > > > (E-Mail Removed)
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
> > (E-Mail Removed)

--

Dave Peterson
(E-Mail Removed)

do you mean
naming the file1 as "my book1.xls" and file2 as "my book2.xls" ?


"Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Try starting the formula with an = (equal sign)
>
> Remember to change the workbook name and the sheet name, too.
>
> Lynn wrote:
> >
> > sorry ..
> > i pasted ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > but when i hit enter nothing happens
> >
> > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > When you say you can't get it to work, does that mean the formula
returns
> > an
> > > error? Or can you not enter the formula at all?
> > >
> > > Did you remember to change the workbook names and the sheet names ("my
> > > book2.xls" and "sheet1" were probably not the names that you used.)
> > >
> > > Maybe post back a little more detail.
> > >
> > > Names of workbooks, names of worksheets in each workbook and what
column
> > the
> > > data is in (for both worksheets).
> > >
> > > Then post your attempt at each formula.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Lynn wrote:
> > > >
> > > > can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
> > > > instructions?
> > > >
> > > > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see
if
> > there
> > > > was a
> > > > > match in the other:
> > > > >
> > > > > One formula would look like this:
> > > > >
> > > > > =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > > > >
> > > > > (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> > > > > workbook/worksheet)
> > > > >
> > > > > Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at
the
> > > > first.
> > > > >
> > > > > If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques
(including
> > > > macros):
> > > > > http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
> > > > >
> > > > > Lynn wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer
names.
> > How
> > > > can i
> > > > > > run a script to compare the contents and list out the
differences
> > > > between
> > > > > > these 2 files?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > sample content of the file:
> > > > > > computer1
> > > > > > computer2
> > > > > > computer3
> > > > > > computer4
> > > > > > .... and so on....
> > > > > >
> > > > > > pls advice. thanks
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >
> > > > > Dave Peterson
> > > > > (E-Mail Removed)
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Dave Peterson
> > > (E-Mail Removed)
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson
> (E-Mail Removed)

You wrote that the worksheets were in different workbooks. Use the actual name
of your workbook and worksheet in each formula.

Don't change the names to match the formula--change the formula to match your
names.

Lynn wrote:
>
> do you mean
> naming the file1 as "my book1.xls" and file2 as "my book2.xls" ?
>
> "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Try starting the formula with an = (equal sign)
> >
> > Remember to change the workbook name and the sheet name, too.
> >
> > Lynn wrote:
> > >
> > > sorry ..
> > > i pasted ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > > but when i hit enter nothing happens
> > >
> > > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > When you say you can't get it to work, does that mean the formula
> returns
> > > an
> > > > error? Or can you not enter the formula at all?
> > > >
> > > > Did you remember to change the workbook names and the sheet names ("my
> > > > book2.xls" and "sheet1" were probably not the names that you used.)
> > > >
> > > > Maybe post back a little more detail.
> > > >
> > > > Names of workbooks, names of worksheets in each workbook and what
> column
> > > the
> > > > data is in (for both worksheets).
> > > >
> > > > Then post your attempt at each formula.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Lynn wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > can't able to get it work. are you able to get me some step by step
> > > > > instructions?
> > > > >
> > > > > "Dave Peterson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > You could use a helper column in each worksheet that looks to see
> if
> > > there
> > > > > was a
> > > > > > match in the other:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > One formula would look like this:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > =ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,'[my book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0))
> > > > > >
> > > > > > (adjust the workbook name and worksheet name to match the other
> > > > > > workbook/worksheet)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Then do the same kind of thing in the other workbook, but point at
> the
> > > > > first.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If you need more, Chip Pearson has a bunch of techniques
> (including
> > > > > macros):
> > > > > > http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Lynn wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > > I have 2 excel files which contains a list of 500 computer
> names.
> > > How
> > > > > can i
> > > > > > > run a script to compare the contents and list out the
> differences
> > > > > between
> > > > > > > these 2 files?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > sample content of the file:
> > > > > > > computer1
> > > > > > > computer2
> > > > > > > computer3
> > > > > > > computer4
> > > > > > > .... and so on....
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > pls advice. thanks
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Dave Peterson
> > > > > > (E-Mail Removed)
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Dave Peterson
> > > > (E-Mail Removed)
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
> > (E-Mail Removed)

--

Dave Peterson
(E-Mail Removed)