Comparing Two Text Based Lists

[Paul Talkington]

Hello All

I have been struggling with a VLOOKUP trying to compare two different
customer lists.

Problem is that when comparing text if there are slightly different
spellings eg. ABC and ABC Ltd. (even if they are the same), I either
get #N/A with FALSE or get the next closest match with TRUE

Am I "barking up the wrong tree" ? is there a way of comparing within a
text string soas to to get a closer - but not exact match ?

Thanks in Advance.

Paul

 

[GB]

Hello All

I have been struggling with a VLOOKUP trying to compare two different
customer lists.

Problem is that when comparing text if there are slightly different
spellings eg. ABC and ABC Ltd. (even if they are the same), I either
get #N/A with FALSE or get the next closest match with TRUE

Am I "barking up the wrong tree" ? is there a way of comparing within a
text string soas to to get a closer - but not exact match ?

Thanks in Advance.

Paul

There is a Soundex algorithm that takes care of minor spelling differences -
so Smith, Smyth, Smythe etc all come out the same. It's quite well known.

I doubt that anything standard will take care of Ltd / plc etc.

In your position, I would proceed as follows:

Copy both lists of names. Do a Search and replace for Ltd, Limited, The,
plc, etc - replacing with nothing. (You might want to make a list of all the
keywords and variations. You might as well record this as a macro, in case
you need to do it again some time.)

Similarly strip out hyphens, spaces, full stops, commas.

Apply Soundex to both lists and use the results of that for your
comparisons.

Good luck! I fear you may need it!

Geoff

 

[GB]

You can get a Soundex algorith already programmed here:

http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/tips/tip77.htm