formula/function/macro to change data

[symphonic]

Hi There:

I've got a big spreadsheet (120K rows). One column lists one of 428 possible categories for each row. I want to reduce this list of possible categories to 43. I have a separate spreadsheet that lists the 428 possible categories and what it should be in the new, shorter list of possibilities.

Is there a way to automate the change in the master spreadsheet?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Joe4]

How about doing a VLOOKUP between your two lists to get your new, scaled down categories?

You can do a Copy -> Paste Special -> Values afterwards to change those lookup formulas to hard-coded values.

 

[symphonic]

Thank you! VLookUp worked.

I'm not skilled at all with Excel and just needed to be pointed in the right direction. Really appreciate the help!

Steve

 

[Joe4]

Thank you! VLookUp worked.

I'm not skilled at all with Excel and just needed to be pointed in the right direction. Really appreciate the help!

Great! Always glad to help, especially people who want to do it themselves, but just need a little direction!