Use the EXACT function.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jan 9, 10:06*am, PBcorn wrote:
I'm using sumproduct to look up a value in column 5 based on values in
columns 1 and 2:

SUMPRODUCT((TRIM('Sheet1'!$A$9:$A$97)=TRIM(A13))*( TRIM('Sheet1'!$B$9:$B$97)*=TRIM(B13)),'Sheet1'!$H$ 9:$H$97)

however i need it to treat two strings, identical aprt from the case of
certain letters, as separate items.

Any suggestions?