Is there a wildcard when using the 'IF' function (or any other function)

[bLySs]

Hi,
I was wondeirng if anyone coul dhelp me out with a problem. I've got
code that i use to reference itmes with. It begins with a letter and i
followed by two digits (eg. F36). I was just wondering if there was
way to use the IF function such as:

=if(e5="f3*","yes","no")

where the astrix is any number?

Or i'm open to any better ideas of doing this.

Thanks in advance

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
one way:
=IF(COUNTIF(E5,"f3*")>0,"Yes","No")

or
=IF(LEFT(E5,2)="f3","Yes","No")

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Maybe this

=IF(COUNTIF(F30:F39,E5),"Yes","No")

meaning if what's in E5 is in any of the cells F30:F39

--
Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

(No private emails please, for everyone's
benefit keep the discussion in the newsgroup/forum)

 

[bLySs]

Okay...seems to vaguely work. Thanks.
But now what do I do if the code is somthing like:

88*-##123456

I need excel to ignore if *=X and when ##=55, other wise calulate
certain formula.

Any ideas on the easiest way through, rather than making som
ridiculously long lookup table?

Thanks
Jeff
(would be much in your debt if you could help me out here, hehe