Help to compare two lists to show a corrosponding value

[clairep]

Hi, I have a list of towns and their post codes (post code list) in an excel spreadsheet. In a seperate spreadsheet I have a long list of addresses, I need to be able to look up each town in the post code list, and return the appropriate post code in the next column in my address list. Please can someone tell me if this can be done, and if so, how to do it. Thank you.

 

[Special-K99]

A post code defines a street in a town not the town itself.
You need a list of streets and postcodes to determine the correct postcode.

 

[clairep]

Thanks for your reply.... Sorry I should have mentioned, I am in Australia where our towns (suburbs) each have their own postcode. Different to the UK system! Please find link to simplified version of what i am trying to do... http://www.4shared.com/file/yMckJnSk/Post_code_question.html

 

[bamblack]

Easily achievable via a vlookup formula. Punch this into C2

=VLOOKUP(B2,'Post codes'!A:B, 2)

Then fill that down. That tells it to look for the value in B2 in the defined range ('Post codes!A:B) then the offset in that row to return when it finds it (2). I believe that's how it's set up at least. The formula works which is the important part!

 

[clairep]

You are awesome!!! Thank you.