Match partial text when partial text is not exact

I hope this is the right thread for this question. This is for Excel 2007, and would be ever so helpful. Please let me know if clarification is needed for anything.

I have two sets of model numbers. One set is the full model numbers of the units we use, and the other is an abbreviated form used to lookup up certificate numbers. I need a way to match these up so I can use one set of search criteria to find out if there is a match. Here is an example of what I need to match with a partial text match:

H,AE35(6,9)36+TD and AE3563636D145C2501AP

H,RE36(6,9)36 and RE36936C145B2505AP

Can this be done? It would be helpful if I could do this with a formula that matches multiple items at the same time (ie; if A & B & C match=true) with the above model number being one of those items (certificate numbers are issued for sets, but the other model numbers are fine).

If that's not possible, a one time VBA run to match all of the abbreviations at once would also work. If these items are matched up with a one time VBA, the VBA needs to account for their being more than one match for each abbreviation depending on the size of the unit.

So H,AE35(6,9)36+TD could be matched to:

AE3563636D145C2501AP
AE3563636D175C2501AP
AE3563636D210C2501AP


Is this possible?

Thank you!

Can you tell me if it's possible to do this without a sample book? I don't have one handy. I would like to know if it's possible to get a partial text match off of what is given. The abbreviated version of the model number is from an outside source that I have no control over. If you really need a sample book, I can see about putting one together.

Originally Posted by NamiSama

Can you tell me if it's possible to do this without a sample book? I don't have one handy. I would like to know if it's possible to get a partial text match off of what is given. The abbreviated version of the model number is from an outside source that I have no control over. If you really need a sample book, I can see about putting one together.

Also, any sample workbook I put together would be in Excel 2003. The workbook this is for is on a separate computer without access to the internet, and has Excel 2007.

Since I was promted twice for a sample book, I started to put one together. The items came together slightly differently than the original workbook because I was simplifying it. Unexpectedly, I found that my code already works! I think I had been working with these abbreviations for so long (and frustrated the whole time) I had convinced myself the problem was more complicated than it was. I would love to post the sample book I made, but I'm not sure how. Hopefully this thread will help others, as so many threads on here have helped me!

Can you tell me how to attach the workbook?

Here is the example book I made for this thread.

Originally Posted by Saarang84

Hi,

Can you briefly explain what your requirement was and how did you arrive at a solution? Just looking at the workbook doesn't explain what you have done.

My requirements were described in the first post of this thread. I will summarize from there:

I have two sets of model numbers. One set is the full model numbers of the units we use, and the other is an abbreviated form used to lookup up certificate numbers. I need a way to match these up so I can use one set of search criteria to find out if there is a match. I also need to do this with a formula that matches multiple items at the same time (ie; if A & B & C match=true) with the above model number being one of those items (certificate numbers are issued for sets, but the other model numbers are fine).