VLOOKUP - Fuzzy Lookup

meppwc

Well-known Member
Joined
May 16, 2003
Messages
604
Office Version
  1. 365
Platform
  1. Windows
I am trying to figure out the best way to perform a VLOOKUP where as the value I am looking for is found somewhere within an array of letters/numbers/characters of a cell.
For Example:
One of the values in my lookup table has the numeric string "841752"
The cell being searched contains the following: "[XREF TO 841752] MP PART CARTRIDGE C3000A"
I should get a "hit" on this cell because it does contain the "841752" string that I am searching on.

I have tried modifying the VLOOKUP formula changing the last part of the formula from "FALSE" to "TRUE" and the results are TOO fuzzy and often see a hit on a cell that does NOT contain the value being searched on.

Does anyone have a suggestion?
 

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Assuming your data is in cell A1, place this formula in cell B1. It will return "TRUE' or "FALSE" : =ISNUMBER(SEARCH("841752",A1))
 
Upvote 0
Although your solution works for one specific value (841752), I have 30 different numeric values that I have to search each cell for. This is why I chose the VLOOKUP table. I tried taking the formula that you provided and replaced the "841752" with the range in my lookup table (A2:A31) and that does not work. I am sorry, but I do appreciate your assistance.
 
Upvote 0
Assuming your data is in column A, your lookup data is in column D, place this formula in B1 and copy down: =SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(SEARCH($D$1:$D$5,A1)))>0
Change the ranges in the formula to suit your needs.
 
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THAT IS PERFECT !!!!!.............Thank you so much
 
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