Hi
I'm trying to set up a search function that can return non-exact matches,
for example I have a database of hospital account details, I have already set
up a search by name facility that will bring up all the details of the
account when you accutrately type in the hospital name. But to make it more
user freindly I need to search on partial names, eg. to get Addenbookes
Hospital I currently need to enter Addenbrookes Hospital exactly the same.
But I want to be able to search on Addenbrookes, or Adden or brookes......
and it still return the correct or nearest match.

Please help if you can this is driving me NUTS!!
TIA
Benn

You could use MATCH with wildcards

=MATCH("*Adden*",A:A,0)


--
HTH

Bob Phillips

"Benn" wrote in message
...
Hi
I'm trying to set up a search function that can return non-exact matches,
for example I have a database of hospital account details, I have already
set
up a search by name facility that will bring up all the details of the
account when you accutrately type in the hospital name. But to make it
more
user freindly I need to search on partial names, eg. to get Addenbookes
Hospital I currently need to enter Addenbrookes Hospital exactly the same.
But I want to be able to search on Addenbrookes, or Adden or brookes......
and it still return the correct or nearest match.

Please help if you can this is driving me NUTS!!
TIA
Benn

You might try creating a drop down list from Data Validation.
That way, you don't have to type anything, just click on your choice.

Check out this link:

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal01.html
--

HTH,

RD
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"Benn" wrote in message
...
Hi
I'm trying to set up a search function that can return non-exact matches,
for example I have a database of hospital account details, I have already
set
up a search by name facility that will bring up all the details of the
account when you accutrately type in the hospital name. But to make it more
user freindly I need to search on partial names, eg. to get Addenbookes
Hospital I currently need to enter Addenbrookes Hospital exactly the same.
But I want to be able to search on Addenbrookes, or Adden or brookes......
and it still return the correct or nearest match.

Please help if you can this is driving me NUTS!!
TIA
Benn