I have a worksheet with a list of names and addresses; I have a second
worksheet with the same list of names (plus some not on the first list), a
social security number, and other data. I want to import the data from the
second worksheet into the first, matching the last names so I have combined
the information for each name onto one worksheet. The combined column labels
would be fname, lname, address1, social, # of items.


What is the best and easiest way to do this?

Although a bit messy, I would suggest you copy and paste all data from one
(the smallest) to the other leaving at least a couple of rows as a
separator. It is then a case of manual manipulation to head up additional
data fields (columns) and cut and paste data to the appropriate column. It
would be good to save as you go as File1, File2 etc so it would be easy to
go back if you make a mistake. When this is complete, delete the separator
rows and sort on name. If the spreadsheet is small it would be relatively
easy to go through and delete duplicate entries. Otherwise a helper column
with -
=IF(A2=A1,1,0)
and, on that column copy and paste (values) will identify the duplicate
entries. Sort on that column and delete the entries returning the value 1.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"CathyW" wrote in message
...
I have a worksheet with a list of names and addresses; I have a second
worksheet with the same list of names (plus some not on the first list), a
social security number, and other data. I want to import the data from
the
second worksheet into the first, matching the last names so I have
combined
the information for each name onto one worksheet. The combined column
labels
would be fname, lname, address1, social, # of items.


What is the best and easiest way to do this?

Thanks, but I know there is a non-manual way to do this. the last place I
worked, an Excel whiz did it for me but I don't recall how.

"Bill Ridgeway" wrote:

Although a bit messy, I would suggest you copy and paste all data from one
(the smallest) to the other leaving at least a couple of rows as a
separator. It is then a case of manual manipulation to head up additional
data fields (columns) and cut and paste data to the appropriate column. It
would be good to save as you go as File1, File2 etc so it would be easy to
go back if you make a mistake. When this is complete, delete the separator
rows and sort on name. If the spreadsheet is small it would be relatively
easy to go through and delete duplicate entries. Otherwise a helper column
with -
=IF(A2=A1,1,0)
and, on that column copy and paste (values) will identify the duplicate
entries. Sort on that column and delete the entries returning the value 1.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"CathyW" wrote in message
...
I have a worksheet with a list of names and addresses; I have a second
worksheet with the same list of names (plus some not on the first list), a
social security number, and other data. I want to import the data from
the
second worksheet into the first, matching the last names so I have
combined
the information for each name onto one worksheet. The combined column
labels
would be fname, lname, address1, social, # of items.


What is the best and easiest way to do this?