comparing data in different columns or worksheets

[FDDavis]

I need to compare text values in 2 sheets and find the ones that are
different up to the first 13 charrecters. what's past the 13 th
charrecter does not matter column a in sheet 1 and column a in sheet 2
the formula i used in column g was
=vlookup(left(a2,13),Sheet2!A:B,1,False) it worked on some and not on
others

This could be the wrong approach to solving my problem any suggestions
appreciated.

in the examples below they all should match as the same but don't using
my formula. only items 1 and 2 match

sample of data in sheet 1 column a

074*RI200010200
074*RI200020200
0AY*RT1000197FR
0B5*R2800029900
0B5*R28000398FR

sample data sheet 2 column a

074*RI2000102
074*RI2000202
0AY*RT1000197FR
0B5*R28000299FR
0B5*R28000398FR

 

[abizar]

try matching only the 13 characters in both columns, by
modifying the original data with the Left (a, 13)
command, before the vlookup.

 

[FDDavis]

Thanks helped me out it worked for me