lookup same or similar

[NeedToKnow]

Hi all, I have tried to search old messages without luck.

I have 2 files which has column A = Vendor name, col B = order value EUR,
C-f = other data. I need to find vendor from older file ti new file and get
order value there. It doesn't matter if column G = vendor name from old file
and col H order value from old file.

This would be easy with vlookup IF all names were written correctly. Many
people make these and misspelling happens. I have figured something like
this, tell if tjere is easier way.

= IF (vlookup to find excatly same name (lookup to get value) ond if excatly
the same vendor cannot be found, there would be nearest suggestion and that
vendors value ) if not anything even close can be found, excel would informs
something like "check" or like that.

Is it possible to have checking if some vendor is not at all in new file?

That's all this time =) I think. You have been a huge help in past,
hopefully also this case can be solved. I have Excel 2003 in use.

 

[Don Guillett]

If all vendors are known, use a drop down data validation list so user can't
screw it up.
But, I'll bet this doesn't answer. Samples??

 

[JLatham]

The 'fuzzy' logic required here would probably be huge, and would require (in
my opinion) VBA to even begin to straighten out the mess. And it probably
wouldn't fix everything even after much tweaking and cajoling.

Quite possibly the best solution is to do as Don Guillett suggested: Create
a list of valid vendor names and require users to use the dropdown list (via
data validation) to select the vendors.

But before that even begins to help you someone probably simply needs to go
in and brute force the vendor names to their correct spelling and
standardized format. Got an intern handy?

 

[Keith Faulconer]

I am not sure of a function that could do what you are asking. What I would
do is ensure that the entries are the same by havinf the users select the
vendors from a drop down menu. You can list the vendors in a list, then
have the Vendor name be selected from that list.