Thanks BJ - I am not sure I understand so let me add some color to this.....

The spreadsheet has the 2,000+ names to be searched in columns C, D, and E -
with other data in colums A, B, and F-M. So should I put my list of names to
be searched in column N1 and then the formula in O1? Also, I am unsure where
I "select 1". Can you help?

"bj" wrote:

one method
use two helper columns
in one put the list of names you want to find
in the other
assuming column a has your customer names
in row 1 of the second helper column
enter
=if(iserror(vlookup(a1,name_list,1,0)),"",1)
copy and paste down
use auto filter on your second helper column and select 1

"tdub4" wrote:

Probably a very easy question, but I need help.

If I have a very large spreadsheet containing 2000+ customer names and I
would like to create a search template (once) that can search that
spreadsheet (or workbook) with for only a set of customer names - say 15
different names - how do I do that?

Also, how could I save that search crtieria for the next spreadsheet that I
need to search?