VLookup Help???

[Guest]

I have two lists of data in two separate sheets. I think I need to use
VLookup to compare the two. Is there a way to set the amount of characters
for the "approximate" match criteria?

for example i match
"CALIMETRICS" to "Calimetrics, Inc." which is good.

But I also match a ton I don't want. For example, I match:
"ABBA INDUSTRIES" to "Abbott Diabetes Care."

If i could limit the characters it compares that to, I think it might be
easier to get an accurate comparison.

Thanks for your help,
Mark

 

[CLR]

You can make a new helper column at the left of your VLOOKUP table and pull
out as many characters as you want from your regular column with the LEFT
formula.....and then do your VLOOKUP on that column.....I've used it before
when dealing with messy data.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Max]

One way ..

Not foolproof of course, but think a certain extent of fuzzy search is
possible via using SEARCH (or FIND, if case sensitivity is required)
together with other functions.

Try this recent response to a similar query:
http://tinyurl.com/o4h4v

The sample file* is also available here:
http://www.savefile.com/files/3356132
Compare 2 data sets & extract diff (Fuzzy search).xls

*cjoint link in follow-up response there
may have expired since