Other than VLookup function

[Guest]

I know there are alternatives to using the vlookup function. I was hoping
someone could send me in the right direction for gathering external data in
order to match up names from various spreadsheets to there corresponding
legal names in one main workbook. I was thinking of doing this by creating
some type of query in order to search for the name from the various workbooks
and place the name alongside it's proper name in a master workbook. Just do
not have any idea for doing this.

For example I have a list of truncated account names (abbreviated version)
with and these workbooks will be sent out to there corresponding account
leaders (56 total) to fill out various market data. From the data account
leader sends back I need their entered data to be pulled into a master
workbook that has the legal account names (long version) along with leaders
name to be used for analysis.

I have a feeling there is no easy way into this... Thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

Ok to better clarify for each legal name on the main workbook we have various
legal names that match up with more than one abbreviated name. An example
would be Mike Daly with Aetna as a abbreviated name and Kevin Harding also
has Aetna listed under his name, but each one refers to a different legal
name (one for Aetna - North Carolina and one for Aetna - California) on the
master workbook. I need to first distinguish that Aetna North Carolina is
with Mike and Aetna California with Kevin in order to do a proper lookup and
some names in the one file have spaces so vlookup is not referencing right.