VLOOKUP, trying to match cells in 2 columns.... help!

[Mark at RETEC Inc]

I am trying to match 2 data sets in 2 columns. Both are
sets of employee names, with Column A sorted alpha
ascending, all employee names are in Caps. Columb B is a
little randon, and Column J has the VLOOKUP formula.

There are multiple entries for some last names in column A
(employee LN + dependents, if any are enrolled with this
health insurance carrier). As mentioned, all names are in
caps. Column B is not really alpha ascending, and I am
getting SOME matches, BUT, what I really want, is to find
out if somebody is NOT in Column B when they are in Column
A, and vice versa. Any suggestions?

I am attempting to do this with VLOOKUP, using the
following formula: =VLOOKUP($A$4:$A$1021,B3,TRUE)

What's weird is that, using this formula, I'm getting a
match: in cell A5 "ADAMS" to cell B25 "Adams", and it
shows as "Adams", in Column J, cell J25, where the formula
is, and (this is making me nuts), I am NOT getting a match
of "APPLEGATE" A20-A24 to match with "Applegate" in B11. I
get the #N/A notation.

But wait, there's more! I have "Bauer" in cell B34, and
the match of "BAUER" is in cells B52-53, and it shows
as "BAUER" in J34. hmmm....

I'm not sure that VLOOKUP is the best way to do this, and
have not written a macro in a long time, so trying to
accomplish this task by macro trial & error would take me
days, and I'm on a deadline. Please help with this! I
appreciate any tips. Thanks.

Mark

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
have a look at
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm#InOneNotOther

 

[Anne Troy]

=VLOOKUP($A$4:$A$1021,B3,TRUE)
That's not a syntax for a vlookup I've ever seen. (I could be wrong)

Try this instead: =VLOOKUP(B3,$A$4:$A$1021,TRUE)

<-*-><-*-><-*-><-*-><-*-><-*-><-*-><-*->
Hope this helps!
Anne Troy (better known as Dreamboat)
Author: Dreamboat on Word
Email: Dreamboat*at*Piersontech.com
Web: www.TheOfficeExperts.com

 

[Ken Wright]

Hi Anne, assuming the TRUE is the optional 4th argument then the column argument
is missing.

 

[Anne Troy]

I'm worrying more about a better way to view these dang newsgroups than
using OE, than I am about answering the question right! Sorry 'bout that!

(Thanks, Ken...)

~Anne

 

[Ken Wright]

Better than OE???????? LOL I love OE