Formula to match names from different columns?

[Tish]

I had a computer program draw a random sample from an Excel database
(the program I used didn't allow me to include all the data I need
from the database). I now want to take the sample's spreadsheet and
match it to the names on the database spreadsheet so I have access to
all the information in the complete database. Is there an easy way to
do this? I've tried various formulas to see if a name in Column A of
the database is also in Column A of the sample's spreadsheet, but
that only works if the same name is in the same row on each column (an
exact match).

If anyone can tell me how to do this, I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks.

Tish Knoll

 

[fxp]

Bascially, you have to use Vlookup against the database column that contains
names. The database should be sorted by the search column.

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Bascially, you have to use Vlookup against the database column that contains
names. The database should be sorted by the search column.

If you use FALSE in the fourth argument of VLOOKUP, the database
needn't be sorted.