I have two files (one a different sourced subset of the other) and have put
last name in a column in each as the key field. The next column has First
name on one file and first middle initial on the other. Need to use a
vlookup but how do you do it across the same last name? Can I use a secondary
field; first name, location etc. to resolve to the right one?

You need to have unique key values - think along the lines of SSN's.....

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"ETC" wrote in message
...
I have two files (one a different sourced subset of the other) and have put
last name in a column in each as the key field. The next column has First
name on one file and first middle initial on the other. Need to use a
vlookup but how do you do it across the same last name? Can I use a secondary
field; first name, location etc. to resolve to the right one?

You could always CONCATENATE the First Name and Last Name fields first and
then using the CONCATENATED columns as the key, try your VLOOKUP again.
--
Hope this helps.

Matt S.


"Bernie Deitrick" wrote:

You need to have unique key values - think along the lines of SSN's.....

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"ETC" wrote in message
...
I have two files (one a different sourced subset of the other) and have put
last name in a column in each as the key field. The next column has First
name on one file and first middle initial on the other. Need to use a
vlookup but how do you do it across the same last name? Can I use a secondary
field; first name, location etc. to resolve to the right one?

Thanks Matt. My problem with that, I think, is that one file include middle
initial and other file doesn't causing the two concatenated fields to still
be different.

"Matt" wrote:

You could always CONCATENATE the First Name and Last Name fields first and
then using the CONCATENATED columns as the key, try your VLOOKUP again.
--
Hope this helps.

Matt S.


"Bernie Deitrick" wrote:

You need to have unique key values - think along the lines of SSN's.....

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"ETC" wrote in message
...
I have two files (one a different sourced subset of the other) and have put
last name in a column in each as the key field. The next column has First
name on one file and first middle initial on the other. Need to use a
vlookup but how do you do it across the same last name? Can I use a secondary
field; first name, location etc. to resolve to the right one?

Then unless you can find a unique field in each spreadsheet, you will not be
able to use the VLOOKUP
--
Hope this helps.

Matt S.


"ETC" wrote:

Thanks Matt. My problem with that, I think, is that one file include middle
initial and other file doesn't causing the two concatenated fields to still
be different.

"Matt" wrote:

You could always CONCATENATE the First Name and Last Name fields first and
then using the CONCATENATED columns as the key, try your VLOOKUP again.
--
Hope this helps.

Matt S.


"Bernie Deitrick" wrote:

You need to have unique key values - think along the lines of SSN's.....

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"ETC" wrote in message
...
I have two files (one a different sourced subset of the other) and have put
last name in a column in each as the key field. The next column has First
name on one file and first middle initial on the other. Need to use a
vlookup but how do you do it across the same last name? Can I use a secondary
field; first name, location etc. to resolve to the right one?