searching a column a for a value in colmn b and parsing it

**cbryan374** · 02-20-2010, 01:34 AM

I have the fopllowing situation: My vendor supplies me with a csv file with all of the products/descriptions/price/categories each week. I need to import this information into a database which is working fine, but the problem I have is the vendor is putting the manufacturer as a category also. which creates 1,750 categories. Not very user friendly.

Column A
category
California Exotics;Miscellaneous;Retail Display Packaged;
California Exotics;Miscellaneous;Retail Display Packaged;
Miscellaneous;PipeDreams;Retail Display Packaged
PHS International;Bulk Packaged Products;Miscellaneous

Column B
manufacturer
California Exotic Novelties
California Exotic Novelties
Pipedreams
PHS International

I need to be able to search for the value in column b (not case sensitive) and remove the value of b from a. I have pulled almost all of my hair out and could really use some help.

I will gladly sned you $50,000 in monopoly money to the first one who can help me work this out.

Thanks in advance,

"Tired of looking at a pc screen Chuck"

**pike** · 02-20-2010, 02:22 AM

Hi cbryan374
Dont be in such a hurry and to change your title to adher to the rules which you agreed to

**justinvalle** · 02-20-2010, 02:39 AM

So, you see everything in an Excel spreadsheet, right?

If so, then I think I understand your issues.

For your 1,750 categories problem, do you mean that it runs across the columns instead of down the rows like the rest of the data?

Then you should copy that unique row, and Paste Special>Transpose

For searching, you will need some VBA support, and string parsing. But it doesn't sound too complicated. How much monopoly money are we talking about? Either way, draw it out a little better for us, good luck.

**teylyn** · 02-20-2010, 02:52 AM

Justinvalle,

Your post does not comply with Rule 7 of our Forum RULES. Please do not ignore Moderators' or Administrators' requests, if you are unclear about their request or instruction then send a private message to them asking for help. Do not post a reply to a thread where a moderator has requested an action that has not been complied with e.g Title change or Code tags...etc

**cbryan374** · 02-20-2010, 03:48 AM

I will post a file with more detail tomorrow, but basically each row represents a product, and the column for categories can have multiple categories separated by a; when the import happens it. looks at the category and makes a nested category tree. The nested tree contains more information than needed such as the manufacturer, or bulk packaging and so forth. How many people do you know that will sort on bulk packaging? It is really irrellevent,but some may want to sort by manufacturer. So what is happening is the vendor doesn't have a set format of categories. So the import is creating thing like
Toys
Stainless
Hasbro
Medical
Mckessen
Children
Tomb raider

And so forth, so you see where there is more information than needed. I will attach a file in the morning. Goodnight!

**justinvalle** · 02-20-2010, 10:58 PM

Teylyn,

Sounds good. So who is this mysterious Moderator/Administrator anyways. I see no such post. And either way, your infraction was cute, almost makes you seem like you have power in some way, funny.

Regards,
Justin

**teylyn** · 02-20-2010, 11:25 PM

Justin, moderators remove their warnings after a request has been complied with. Your post stays, since you ignored my initial request to the OP.

You find it all in the forum rules.

regards

**royUK** · 02-21-2010, 03:42 AM

Justin

I am Administrator here and you appear to have a problem with Forum Admin, so why not simply post elsewhere. We don't need you.

**cbryan374** · 02-21-2010, 11:09 AM

Dear Roy UK, I don't understand what the problem is, I have changed the title as requested. You obviously have somethin enormus stuck into your rear end. I will remove my post and you can go ahead and shove whatever that thing is all the way up, maybe it will choke you and you can forget I was ever here.
You stupid Brit.