How about this in D1:
=COUNTIF(C:C,"*"&LEFT(B1,4)&"*")0
and drag down.

jchick0909 wrote:

Hi,

I have two columns containing names. there are some spelling and other
errors. I am trying to use a search function combined with an array and
Left(cell,4) functions to determine if the first four characters in the
column B match any of the names in column C.

Example:
B C
johnnathan, doe johnathen, doe
Smith, Jane Jane smith

if the first four characters match, i would like the cell containing the
formula to result with the name in column C that matches.

my attempt:
=if(isnumber(search((left,B3,4)),$C$3:$C$141),$C$3 :$C$141,"") CSE

Thanks!

--

Dave Peterson