Probably not foolproof given the circumstances, but we could try this
revised formula in the sample sheet's E2, copied down:
=IF(B2="","",IF(SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(SEARCH(B2,$A$1:$A$20)))0,"",ROW()))

Col B: 1294, 1356, etc
Col A: 50-02-1294-C2, 50-02-1356C2,etc

Adapt the range A1:A20 to suit
(but we can't use entire col refs)

[no change to the other formulas]

See whether the above gives you better results
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"Fanney" wrote in message
...
Hi Max.
Thank you for your answer :o)

I have a problem. The data that I need to compare is not always exactly
the
same. The numbers in list B [set2] are contained within the numbers in
list A
[set1].
An example: 50-02-1294-C2 in list A would be 1294 in list B.

What complicates things even a little further is that there is not always
a
"-" separating the different "fragments" of the numbers in list A.

As my lists are now, using the functions directly from your example gives
me
a duplicate of [set1] in [set1 items not in set2], and a duplicate of
[set2]
in [set2 items not in set1].

Is my goal at all attainable?

Regards, Fanney.