Really Stuck!

[ONC]

Hello. Let me jsut start by saying that I have looked for the solution and though long and hard, but alas my tiny brain could not find the answer.

I have a table with peoples details, like surname, firstname etc. Then I have another sheet for wages that need to look up the data. I am having a problem with the names though.

Some people have the same surname, and thid is causing problems. The surname field is the first one that is on the list. I have a combobox that lists all of the surnames (the cells are called "surname"). Then I have otyher boxes using lookups from that list and displaying the other information like firstname.

The problem comes when I try to get the lookup from the surname list. The box displayes both of the same surnames, but the lookup will only recognise one of them.

I am very stummped by this and really need some help.


The table looks a bit like this:

| A | B | C |
|Surname |forename| Initial|

Andy Jeff
Bod James A
Bod Mary C
etc
etc

I have seen people talk about a unique number of something. I tried entereing this in a table before the surname and then looked it up, but It wouldn't. I can't rearrange the columns either.

I can send the file with it on if I am making no sense.

Thanks for your help, please remember I don't knwo too much so go easy on the code/formula side

[Tom Schreiner]

If no-one is able to help, go ahead and send it:
TsTom@Hotmail.com
Tom

[Ian Mac]

On 2002-04-21 09:09, ONC wrote:
Hello. Let me jsut start by saying that I have looked for the solution and though long and hard, but alas my tiny brain could not find the answer.

I have a table with peoples details, like surname, firstname etc. Then I have another sheet for wages that need to look up the data. I am having a problem with the names though.

Some people have the same surname, and thid is causing problems. The surname field is the first one that is on the list. I have a combobox that lists all of the surnames (the cells are called "surname"). Then I have otyher boxes using lookups from that list and displaying the other information like firstname.

The problem comes when I try to get the lookup from the surname list. The box displayes both of the same surnames, but the lookup will only recognise one of them.

I am very stummped by this and really need some help.


The table looks a bit like this:

| A | B | C |
|Surname |forename| Initial|

Andy Jeff
Bod James A
Bod Mary C
etc
etc

I have seen people talk about a unique number of something. I tried entereing this in a table before the surname and then looked it up, but It wouldn't. I can't rearrange the columns either.

I can send the file with it on if I am making no sense.

Thanks for your help, please remember I don't knwo too much so go easy on the code/formula side

you could add a further field that is =B2&" "&A2
in column D. so it wouldbe first name space Surname.
on the master sheet add another drop down list with first name.
the use the both values to populate the rest of the sheet with

=Vlookup(Cell_With_FirstName&" "&Cell_With_Surname,Table_Range_But_Now_Using_Column_D,Column your after,0)

Does this make sense?

I'm not sure what you mean by can't change cloumns though, is this infomation coming from somewhere else?

Also, if it's wages there should be a field for the payroll number, this will be the URN, you could use an Index/Match solution that can cope with negative column/row lookups.