Need to Compare Names in Two Columns

[MLCall]

I am using Excel 2010. I am trying to use VLOOKUP to compare the First and Last Name in one column to the same structure of names in a 2nd column. The names are sorted in ascending order based on the first name in both columns. My Table_Array is the 2nd column of names. My Lookup_Value is the names in the first column. I thought the Col_Index_Number should be 1 since my look-up table is only one column. I am looking for an exact match. I tried the following variations:
=VLOOKUP(F2,G2:G166,1,FALSE)
=VLOOKUP(F2,G2:G166,2,FALSE)

Column G has more entries than column F. I have reversed them so that the longer list is the first column but that didn't work either and goes against the VLOOKUP logic, but I tried anyway.

I received an error on everything I tried. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I don't know if the fact that the names in columns F and G are the result of a CONCATENATE formula is an issue. I also tried using MATCH with no success.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
MLCall

[etaf]

if you want to see if the name appears in the list you could use a countif()

=VLOOKUP(F2,$G$2:$G$166,1,FALSE)
so that will return the name G if its the same as F2
then copy down - where there is no match it will return #N/A

Please upload a sample of your workbook to the forum, Make sure you have removed any private information, remember this is a public forum and so available to anyone
Would like to see an example of your data and also a manual mock up of the expected results you want to achieve.

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[gak67]

It sounds like the two data sets are not actually matching. Can you upload a sample file for us to see? Also, you could manually find 2 names that you think should match and try: =EXACT([Column F reference],[Column G reference]) and see if it returns TRUE or FALSE.

[chrisneu]

Try

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[MLCall]

Wayne,

Thanks for your help. I had to use TRIM to make sure all extraneous spaces were removed before I could get the formula to work. Sorry for the delayed update.

MLCall

[MLCall]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I used VLOOKUP because it is my manager's choice.

[etaf]

Thanks for the rep