Lookup text values
 

I want to compare one column of text data with another, but not all of the
information is the same. I don't need to know whether the data is exact, I
simply want to know if it is alike.

Eg.
A B
Green Apples Apples
Juicy Pears Tree

If any part of the two cells are the same, e.g. as Row 1 I want to be able
to return a value. Is auto filtering the only way to do this.

Hi
this is a little bit complicated as you have to define what is 'alike'
for you. You could try for example
=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(B1,A1)),"B1 is in A1","no match")

--
Regards
Frank Kabel
Frankfurt, Germany

"LizJ" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
I want to compare one column of text data with another, but not all
of the
information is the same. I don't need to know whether the data is
exact, I
simply want to know if it is alike.

Eg.
A B
Green Apples Apples
Juicy Pears Tree

If any part of the two cells are the same, e.g. as Row 1 I want to be
able
to return a value. Is auto filtering the only way to do this.

You could try putting this in column C (or anywhere else).

=IF(ISERROR(SEARCH(B2,A2)),"","Match")

Art

What are the rules, can there be multiple words in both columns like

Green Apples Pears that are green
Juicy Pears Juicy Tangerines
I want red apples Apple juice is awful

If that's the case it basically impossible, if it is one word in B like in
your example, then you already got an answer, use a third column with Frank's
formula and later filter on that formula

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"LizJ" wrote:

I want to compare one column of text data with another, but not all of the
information is the same. I don't need to know whether the data is exact, I
simply want to know if it is alike.

Eg.
A B
Green Apples Apples
Juicy Pears Tree

If any part of the two cells are the same, e.g. as Row 1 I want to be able
to return a value. Is auto filtering the only way to do this.

Thank you, yes I have got multiple words in both columns, I have pasted
Frank's formula in, but it seems to give inconsistent results. e.g.
Mr C Smith has matched with Mr Smith, but on another row, Mr D Findlay
hasn't matched with Mr Findlay.

I think I may have to do tis one by eye.

"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

What are the rules, can there be multiple words in both columns like

Green Apples Pears that are green
Juicy Pears Juicy Tangerines
I want red apples Apple juice is awful

If that's the case it basically impossible, if it is one word in B like in
your example, then you already got an answer, use a third column with Frank's
formula and later filter on that formula

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"LizJ" wrote:

I want to compare one column of text data with another, but not all of the
information is the same. I don't need to know whether the data is exact, I
simply want to know if it is alike.

Eg.
A B
Green Apples Apples
Juicy Pears Tree

If any part of the two cells are the same, e.g. as Row 1 I want to be able
to return a value. Is auto filtering the only way to do this.

Hi
that's correct as the string 'Mr Findlay' is not (in this oder) to be
found in the string 'Mr D Findlay'.

What you need is a 'fuzzy pattern match'. See for example:
http://tinyurl.com/4sya3

--
Regards
Frank Kabel
Frankfurt, Germany

"LizJ" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Thank you, yes I have got multiple words in both columns, I have
pasted
Frank's formula in, but it seems to give inconsistent results. e.g.
Mr C Smith has matched with Mr Smith, but on another row, Mr D
Findlay
hasn't matched with Mr Findlay.

I think I may have to do tis one by eye.

"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

What are the rules, can there be multiple words in both columns
like

Green Apples Pears that are green
Juicy Pears Juicy Tangerines
I want red apples Apple juice is awful

If that's the case it basically impossible, if it is one word in B
like in
your example, then you already got an answer, use a third column
with Frank's
formula and later filter on that formula

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"LizJ" wrote:

I want to compare one column of text data with another, but not
all of the
information is the same. I don't need to know whether the data is
exact, I
simply want to know if it is alike.

Eg.
A B
Green Apples Apples
Juicy Pears Tree

If any part of the two cells are the same, e.g. as Row 1 I want
to be able
to return a value. Is auto filtering the only way to do this.