I know there are alternatives to using the vlookup function. I was hoping
someone could send me in the right direction for gathering external data in
order to match up names from various spreadsheets to there corresponding
legal names in one main workbook. I was thinking of doing this by creating
some type of query in order to search for the name from the various workbooks
and place the name alongside it's proper name in a master workbook. Just do
not have any idea for doing this.

For example I have a list of truncated account names (abbreviated version)
with and these workbooks will be sent out to there corresponding account
leaders (56 total) to fill out various market data. From the data account
leader sends back I need their entered data to be pulled into a master
workbook that has the legal account names (long version) along with leaders
name to be used for analysis.

I have a feeling there is no easy way into this... Thanks for your help.