jickes,

Here's a way to do it using formulas and sorting.

You would need to set up a helper column: if you wanted to match names in Columns E to names in
Column A, then in cell H2 (let's say that your data starts on row 2, and you have two columns of
data that needs to stay with values in column E, and your data extends for 100 rows in column A),
use the formula

=IF(ISERROR(MATCH(E2,$A$2:$A$100,FALSE)),COUNTA($A $2:$A$100)+1,MATCH(E2,$A$2:$A$100,FALSE))

and copy down to match your data in column E.

Then, in the cell below the last formula in column H - let's say your last cell was H124, so in
H125, enter the formula

=IF(ISERROR(MATCH(ROW(A1),$F$2:$F$124,FALSE)),ROW( A1),1000)

and copy down for at least 100 rows.

Then copy column H, pastespecial values, and then sort columns E, F, G, and H based on column H,
and, finally, delete column H.

Of course, a macro could be used as well, but since you posted in worksheetfunctions, we won't use
macros.

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"jickes" wrote in message
...
Here is my problem. I have lots of data in multiple columns that needs
matched up. here is an example.

col 1 col2 col3 col4 col5 col6 col7
anderson 23 33 43 brook 44 55
brook 34 55 4 zane 44 44
kissell 55 44 4 kissell 55 65

There are actually about 6 columns with names in them with with
corresponding data in the next two columns. I need to search and match the
names and put them in the same row. there will be some names in column 1
that are not in column 5 and vice versa. Basically I want to sort the data
so column 1 and 6 and all other columns with names and put them on the same
row so I can compare the data in the columns that go with the names across
the board. Hope I explained this correctly.
Thanks in advance