doing approximate matches using MATCH or something similar

DCPAus

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Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
90
I have two large excel spreadsheets with products and customers and sales on them, both have been downloaded from different computer systems at different times, what I would like to do is match up the products on one sheet to the products on the other sheets and get the sales results from the column next to it ie

Sheet 1
Column A Column B

Sheet 2
Column A

If Sheet2 Column A equal to Sheet1 Column A then "Sheet 1 Column B"

that is simple but because the data may not match exactly I want to have the ability to include the "command" approximately ie if Column A is approximately the same as Column B

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 

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Re: doing approximate matches using MATCH or something simil

It'd probably be a good idea if you expound on your expectations of this you wrote:
"approximately ie if Column A is approximately the same as Column B"

Please post some sample data and what you consider to be an acceptable approximation, or where you draw the line between what should be a match versus what should not be a match.
 
Upvote 0
Re: doing approximate matches using MATCH or something simil

Fuzzy Lookup looks perfect, now I just need to make it work.
 
Upvote 0
Re: doing approximate matches using MATCH or something simil

Hi,

Parameters to FuzzyVlookup are:

LookupValue: the string to be looked up.

TableArray: The range to search.

IndexNum: the column number to be returned. Zero has a special meaning in that the function will return the relative row number (which can be subsequently used with the INDEX function).

NFPercent: If the best match percentage is below this, #N/A will be returned (default 5%). Suggest you set this to 70%

Rank : use the default (1) to return the best match.

Algorithm : Three matching algorithms are available.
Algorithm 1 is a forward scan algorithm and is used for matching strings with minor misspellings
Algorithm 2 matches pairs, the triplets, then quadruplets etc, and is used for matching , e.g. 'firstname lastname' with 'lastname firstname'. Default 3, which is a combinatiopn of 1 and 2.

As a first shot, try:
1) Set calculation to manual
2) In Sheet1, cell B2 type:
=FUZZYVLOOKUP(A2, Sheet2!A:A, 2, 70%, 1, 1)
This will return the best match (if above 70%) for the value in A2 from column A in Sheet2, using 'forward scan' algorithm
3) copy the formula from B2 down the column
4) press F9 (and WAIT! - this function is CPU hungry)


I have always been aware that this function is very CPU intensive, & have introduced some (minor) efficiencies with this version:

Code:
Option Explicit
Type RankInfo
    Offset As Integer
    Percentage As Single
End Type
Sub Auto_Open()
'There are 10 categories
'1 = finance
'2 = date & time
'3 = math & trig
'4 = statistics
'5 = matrices
'6 = database
'7 = text functions
'8 = logic
'9 = info
'10 = User defined

Application.MacroOptions _
    Macro:="FuzzyPercent", _
    Description:="Return percentage match between two strings", _
    Category:=10
Application.MacroOptions _
    Macro:="FuzzyVLookup", _
    Description:="Return best match for string from column range", _
    Category:=10
Application.MacroOptions _
    Macro:="FuzzyHLookup", _
    Description:="Return best match for string from row range", _
    Category:=10
End Sub
Function FuzzyPercent(ByVal String1 As String, _
                      ByVal String2 As String, _
                      Optional Algorithm As Integer = 3, _
                      Optional Normalised As Boolean = False) As Single
'*************************************
'** Return a % match on two strings **
'*************************************
Dim intLen1 As Integer
Dim intCurLen As Integer
Dim intTo As Integer
Dim intPos As Integer
Dim intPtr As Integer
Dim intScore As Integer
Dim intTotScore As Integer
Dim intStartPos As Integer
Dim strWork As String

'-------------------------------------------------------
'-- If strings havent been normalised, normalise them --
'-------------------------------------------------------
If Normalised = False Then
    String1 = LCase$(Application.Trim(String1))
    String2 = LCase$(Application.Trim(String2))
End If

'----------------------------------------------
'-- Give 100% match if strings exactly equal --
'----------------------------------------------
If String1 = String2 Then
    FuzzyPercent = 1
    Exit Function
End If

intLen1 = Len(String1)

'----------------------------------------
'-- Give 0% match if string length < 2 --
'----------------------------------------
If intLen1 < 2 Then
    FuzzyPercent = 0
    Exit Function
End If

intTotScore = 0                   'initialise total possible score
intScore = 0                      'initialise current score

'--------------------------------------------------------
'-- If Algorithm = 1 or 3, Search for single characters --
'--------------------------------------------------------
If (Algorithm And 1) <> 0 Then
    intTotScore = intLen1                   'initialise total possible score
    intPos = 0
    For intPtr = 1 To intLen1
        intStartPos = intPos + 1
        intPos = InStr(intStartPos, String2, Mid$(String1, intPtr, 1))
        If intPos > 0 Then
            If intPos > intStartPos + 3 Then     'No match if char is > 3 bytes away
                intPos = intStartPos
            Else
                intScore = intScore + 1          'Update current score
            End If
        Else
            intPos = intStartPos
        End If
    Next intPtr
End If

'-----------------------------------------------------------
'-- If Algorithm = 2 or 3, Search for pairs, triplets etc. --
'-----------------------------------------------------------
If (Algorithm And 2) <> 0 Then
    For intCurLen = 2 To intLen1
        strWork = String2                          'Get a copy of String2
        intTo = intLen1 - intCurLen + 1
        intTotScore = intTotScore + Int(intLen1 / intCurLen)  'Update total possible score
        For intPtr = 1 To intTo Step intCurLen
            intPos = InStr(strWork, Mid$(String1, intPtr, intCurLen))
            If intPos > 0 Then
                Mid$(strWork, intPos, intCurLen) = String$(intCurLen, &H0) 'corrupt found string
                intScore = intScore + 1     'Update current score
            End If
        Next intPtr
    Next intCurLen
End If

FuzzyPercent = intScore / intTotScore

End Function

Function FuzzyVLookup(ByVal LookupValue As String, _
                      ByVal TableArray As Range, _
                      ByVal IndexNum As Integer, _
                      Optional NFPercent As Single = 0.05, _
                      Optional Rank As Integer = 1, _
                      Optional Algorithm As Integer = 3) As Variant
'********************************************************************************
'** Function to Fuzzy match LookupValue with entries in                        **
'** column 1 of table specified by TableArray.                                 **
'** TableArray must specify the top left cell of the range to be searched      **
'** The function stops scanning the table when an empty cell in column 1       **
'** is found.                                                                  **
'** For each entry in column 1 of the table, FuzzyPercent is called to match   **
'** LookupValue with the Table entry.                                          **
'** 'Rank' is an optional parameter which may take any value > 0               **
'**        (default 1) and causes the function to return the 'nth' best        **
'**         match (where 'n' is defined by 'Rank' parameter)                   **
'** If the 'Rank' match percentage < NFPercent (Default 5%), #N/A is returned. **
'** IndexNum is the column number of the entry in TableArray required to be    **
'** returned, as follows:                                                      **
'** If IndexNum > 0 and the 'Rank' percentage match is >= NFPercent            **
'**                 (Default 5%) the column entry indicated by IndexNum is     **
'**                 returned.                                                  **
'** if IndexNum = 0 and the 'Rank' percentage match is >= NFPercent            **
'**                 (Default 5%) the offset row (starting at 1) is returned.   **
'**                 This value can be used directly in the 'Index' function.   **
'**                                                                            **
'** Algorithm can take one of the following values:                            **
'** Algorithm = 1:                                                             **
'**     This algorithm is best suited for matching mis-spellings.              **
'**     For each character in 'String1', a search is performed on 'String2'.   **
'**     The search is deemed successful if a character is found in 'String2'   **
'**     within 3 characters of the current position.                           **
'**     A score is kept of matching characters which is returned as a          **
'**     percentage of the total possible score.                                **
'** Algorithm = 2:                                                             **
'**     This algorithm is best suited for matching sentences, or               **
'**     'firstname lastname' compared with 'lastname firstname' combinations   **
'**     A count of matching pairs, triplets, quadruplets etc. in 'String1' and **
'**     'String2' is returned as a percentage of the total possible.           **
'** Algorithm = 3: Both Algorithms 1 and 2 are performed.                      **
'********************************************************************************
Dim R As Range

Dim strListString As String
Dim strWork As String

Dim sngMinPercent As Single
Dim sngWork As Single
Dim sngCurPercent  As Single
Dim intBestMatchPtr As Integer
Dim intRankPtr As Integer
Dim intRankPtr1 As Integer

Dim lEndRow As Long

Dim udRankData() As RankInfo

Dim vCurValue As Variant

'--------------------------------------------------------------
'--    Validation                                            --
'--------------------------------------------------------------

LookupValue = LCase$(Application.Trim(LookupValue))

If IsMissing(NFPercent) Then
    sngMinPercent = 0.05
Else
    If (NFPercent <= 0) Or (NFPercent > 1) Then
        FuzzyVLookup = "*** 'NFPercent' must be a percentage > zero ***"
        Exit Function
    End If
    sngMinPercent = NFPercent
End If

If Rank < 1 Then
    FuzzyVLookup = "*** 'Rank' must be an integer > 0 ***"
    Exit Function
End If

ReDim udRankData(1 To Rank)

lEndRow = TableArray.Rows.Count
If VarType(TableArray.Cells(lEndRow, 1).Value) = vbEmpty Then
    lEndRow = TableArray.Cells(lEndRow, 1).End(xlUp).Row
End If

'---------------
'-- Main loop --
'---------------
For Each R In Range(TableArray.Cells(1, 1), TableArray.Cells(lEndRow, 1))
    vCurValue = R.Value
    If VarType(vCurValue) = vbString Then
        strListString = LCase$(Application.Trim(vCurValue))
        
        '------------------------------------------------
        '-- Fuzzy match strings & get percentage match --
        '------------------------------------------------
        sngCurPercent = FuzzyPercent(String1:=LookupValue, _
                                     String2:=strListString, _
                                     Algorithm:=Algorithm, _
                                     Normalised:=True)
        
        If sngCurPercent >= sngMinPercent Then
            '---------------------------
            '-- Store in ranked array --
            '---------------------------
            For intRankPtr = 1 To Rank
                If sngCurPercent > udRankData(intRankPtr).Percentage Then
                    For intRankPtr1 = Rank To intRankPtr + 1 Step -1
                        With udRankData(intRankPtr1)
                            .Offset = udRankData(intRankPtr1 - 1).Offset
                            .Percentage = udRankData(intRankPtr1 - 1).Percentage
                        End With
                    Next intRankPtr1
                    With udRankData(intRankPtr)
                        .Offset = R.Row
                        .Percentage = sngCurPercent
                    End With
                    Exit For
                End If
            Next intRankPtr
        End If
        
    End If
Next R

If udRankData(Rank).Percentage < sngMinPercent Then
    '--------------------------------------
    '-- Return '#N/A' if below NFPercent --
    '--------------------------------------
    FuzzyVLookup = CVErr(xlErrNA)
Else
    intBestMatchPtr = udRankData(Rank).Offset - TableArray.Cells(1, 1).Row + 1
    If IndexNum > 0 Then
        '-----------------------------------
        '-- Return column entry specified --
        '-----------------------------------
        FuzzyVLookup = TableArray.Cells(intBestMatchPtr, IndexNum)
    Else
        '-----------------------
        '-- Return offset row --
        '-----------------------
        FuzzyVLookup = intBestMatchPtr
    End If
End If
End Function
Function FuzzyHLookup(ByVal LookupValue As String, _
                      ByVal TableArray As Range, _
                      ByVal IndexNum As Integer, _
                      Optional NFPercent As Single = 0.05, _
                      Optional Rank As Integer = 1, _
                      Optional Algorithm As Integer = 3) As Variant
'********************************************************************************
'** Function to Fuzzy match LookupValue with entries in                        **
'** row 1 of table specified by TableArray.                                    **
'** TableArray must specify the top left cell of the range to be searched      **
'** The function stops scanning the table when an empty cell in row 1          **
'** is found.                                                                  **
'** For each entry in row 1 of the table, FuzzyPercent is called to match      **
'** LookupValue with the Table entry.                                          **
'** 'Rank' is an optional parameter which may take any value > 0               **
'**        (default 1) and causes the function to return the 'nth' best        **
'**         match (where 'n' is defined by 'Rank' parameter)                   **
'** If the 'Rank' match percentage < NFPercent (Default 5%), #N/A is returned. **
'** IndexNum is the row number of the entry in TableArray required to be       **
'** returned, as follows:                                                      **
'** If IndexNum > 0 and the 'Rank' percentage match is >= NFPercent            **
'**                 (Default 5%) the row entry indicated by IndexNum is        **
'**                 returned.                                                  **
'** if IndexNum = 0 and the 'Rank' percentage match is >= NFPercent            **
'**                 (Default 5%) the offset col (starting at 0) is returned.   **
'**                 This value can be used directly in the 'OffSet' function.  **
'**                                                                            **
'** Algorithm can take one of the following values:                            **
'** Algorithm = 1:                                                             **
'**     For each character in 'String1', a search is performed on 'String2'.   **
'**     The search is deemed successful if a character is found in 'String2'   **
'**     within 3 characters of the current position.                           **
'**     A score is kept of matching characters which is returned as a          **
'**     percentage of the total possible score.                                **
'** Algorithm = 2:                                                             **
'**     A count of matching pairs, triplets, quadruplets etc. in 'String1' and **
'**     'String2' is returned as a percentage of the total possible.           **
'** Algorithm = 3: Both Algorithms 1 and 2 are performed.                      **
'********************************************************************************
Dim R As Range

Dim strListString As String
Dim strWork As String

Dim sngMinPercent As Single
Dim sngWork As Single
Dim sngCurPercent  As Single

Dim intBestMatchPtr As Integer
Dim intPtr As Integer
Dim intRankPtr As Integer
Dim intRankPtr1 As Integer

Dim iEndCol As Integer

Dim udRankData() As RankInfo

Dim vCurValue As Variant
'--------------------------------------------------------------
'--    Validation                                            --
'--------------------------------------------------------------
LookupValue = LCase$(Application.Trim(LookupValue))

If IsMissing(NFPercent) Then
    sngMinPercent = 0.05
Else
    If (NFPercent <= 0) Or (NFPercent > 1) Then
        FuzzyHLookup = "*** 'NFPercent' must be a percentage > zero ***"
        Exit Function
    End If
    sngMinPercent = NFPercent
End If

If Rank < 1 Then
    FuzzyHLookup = "*** 'Rank' must be an integer > 0 ***"
    Exit Function
End If

ReDim udRankData(1 To Rank)
'**************************
iEndCol = TableArray.Columns.Count
If VarType(TableArray.Cells(1, iEndCol).Value) = vbEmpty Then
    iEndCol = TableArray.Cells(1, iEndCol).End(xlToLeft).Column
End If

'---------------
'-- Main loop --
'---------------
For Each R In Range(TableArray.Cells(1, 1), TableArray.Cells(1, iEndCol))
    vCurValue = R.Value
    If VarType(vCurValue) = vbString Then
        strListString = LCase$(Application.Trim(vCurValue))
        
        '------------------------------------------------
        '-- Fuzzy match strings & get percentage match --
        '------------------------------------------------
        sngCurPercent = FuzzyPercent(String1:=LookupValue, _
                                     String2:=strListString, _
                                     Algorithm:=Algorithm, _
                                     Normalised:=True)
        
        If sngCurPercent >= sngMinPercent Then
            '---------------------------
            '-- Store in ranked array --
            '---------------------------
            For intRankPtr = 1 To Rank
                If sngCurPercent > udRankData(intRankPtr).Percentage Then
                    For intRankPtr1 = Rank To intRankPtr + 1 Step -1
                        With udRankData(intRankPtr1)
                            .Offset = udRankData(intRankPtr1 - 1).Offset
                            .Percentage = udRankData(intRankPtr1 - 1).Percentage
                        End With
                    Next intRankPtr1
                    With udRankData(intRankPtr)
                        .Offset = R.Column
                        .Percentage = sngCurPercent
                    End With
                    Exit For
                End If
            Next intRankPtr
        End If
        
    End If
Next R

If udRankData(Rank).Percentage < sngMinPercent Then
    '--------------------------------------
    '-- Return '#N/A' if below NFPercent --
    '--------------------------------------
    FuzzyHLookup = CVErr(xlErrNA)
Else
    intBestMatchPtr = udRankData(Rank).Offset - TableArray.Cells(1, 1).Column + 1
    If IndexNum > 0 Then
        '-----------------------------------
        '-- Return row entry specified --
        '-----------------------------------
        FuzzyHLookup = TableArray.Cells(IndexNum, intBestMatchPtr)
    Else
        '-----------------------
        '-- Return offset col --
        '-----------------------
        FuzzyHLookup = intBestMatchPtr
    End If
End If
End Function

HTH

Alan
 
Upvote 0
Re: doing approximate matches using MATCH or something simil

Hi Alan

Thanks very much. Works a treat.

Dominic
 
Upvote 0
Hi, I think this fuzzyvlookup function would also benefit me but I'm also having troubles with being able to run the code. I'm also using Microsoft Excel 2007 and have tried:

"Alt + F11
Toolbar: Insert - Module
Paste code in the Editor window for that module!"

But how is the code saved as a macro? When I enter this code and want to run, nothing shows up in the macro list to run.

I would appreciate the help!

Cheers
 
Upvote 0

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