Vlookup on partial match

[Robert_L_Ross]

OK, weird scenario, but I have a 'key' column in a source table (10-FirstName
LastName-1-1, 10-FirstName LastName-1-2, etc.) that I want search for in a
data table and match on a longer key (10-FirstName LastName-1-1
TransactionName, 10-FirstName LastName-1-2 TransactionName, etc.).

The problem is that the Transaction Numbers will stay the same over time,
but the names may change slightly. Each time the name changes, then
historical data disappears. If I can match on only the short key, I could
care less what the name is.

I don't want to have to change the source table, the query since it's in a
program and outputs a file...we'd have to change the program and that would
be ugly.

Can I use some kind of wildcard or something like a Like command to match
just the first X characters? Will setting the range lookup accomplish this?

Any help would be appreciated...thanks all!!!

 

[Pete_UK]

You can use a wildcard character with VLOOKUP, along these lines:

=VLOOKUP(A2&"*",Table,column,0)

Hope this helps.

Pete