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If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

  1. #1
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    If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    Hello All,

    Long time lurker (thanks for all the problems you've helped solve, though you didn't know it), first time poster. I've encountered an issue that I've spent almost a good 6 hours researching, to no avail. Please see if you can help.
    I'm working in XL 2010.

    I have a HUGE data file that has a list of estimators (names) and about a million lines of data corresponding to each person. Ultimately, I need it cleaned up to move it into a dashboard that is usable by management. For this, I had planned to use dynamic pivot tables to avoid having to manually update every line of data...HOWEVER, the original author of this enormous data file left lines available (mostly titled "Estimator #1" "Estimator#2" "Available," etc) to account for potential additions to his already mostly-automated spreadsheet. I didn't think this would pose such a substantial issue but I guess it has. I'm not sure the most efficient formula and, at this point, I can't even get anything to work.

    What I'm trying to tell it to do is, "If the cell <>, "Estimator*"), return the value of that cell.

    I have tried using:

    IF statement -- has issues with returning wildcard text in a logical function, I guess.
    IF(SEARCH -- Returning all cell values, regardless of = or <>.
    ISTEXT -- returns only FALSE.
    IF(ISTEXT -- Returns no values with wildcard in text string.
    IF(ISTEXT(SEARCH -- Returns all cell values, regardless of = or <>.

    I have tried all of these combinations with either a wildcard or, if that didn't return values, a <>.
    And, while admittedly newer to vlookups, I couldn't find a workable way to do this.

    All I can find that is working (I digressed just to make sure I wasn't writing formulas incorrectly) is the COUNTIF...this isn't an option, as I need the actual names and not a 1, 0.

    sample.xlsx

    I am at a total loss and thankful for anyone who puts forth the effort to teach me to solve this problem.

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Valued Forum Contributor ranman256's Avatar
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    I might have something but I dont know WHERE to return the value. In your example: A6 has Estimator, so you want Estimator#1, put where? Or the values of Estimator's in B,C, & D6 put where?

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    Forum Expert martindwilson's Avatar
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    try
    =IF(ISERROR(SEARCH("estimator*",A2)),A2,"")
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    Hello sabusby,

    Have you tried a LEFT formula?

    Formula: copy to clipboard
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    Wow! You guys are quick!

    Re: Ranman: I'm cleaning them to another sheet and do not want to see the cells which contain "Estimator" anything. They will muddy-up the pivot-tables I plan to develop from this data. I only need to see current employees and their sales data. "Estimator" is basically a placeholder with no meaningful information but could potentially hold some in the future.

    Re: MartinDWilson: Your formula worked! I am forever thankful! I know nothing of the ISERROR function (and little about the search function) but was just researching when I saw the replies to this thread!

    Re: Loganeb: I haven't had a use for the LEFT function but I will definitely research this as well. Everyone around here thinks I'm an excel whiz--I try to tell them I'm only doing basic functions but no one listens!

    Thank you all so much for your help. This is seriously invaluable after all the time I've spent staring at it and pulling my hair out!

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    Forum Guru AlKey's Avatar
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    You can also use this

    =IF(COUNTIF(A2,"estimator*"),"",A2)
    Last edited by AlKey; 10-27-2014 at 02:21 PM.
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    Oh my gosh. I knew there was a reason this seemed like such an easy problem to solve. :\

    Is it possible to take this a step further and include an additional <>? Such as you don't want "estimator*" or "manager*" ?

    Wrapping my brain around nested functions and order of execution has been a challenge :\

  8. #8
    Forum Guru AlKey's Avatar
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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    Sure

    =IF(OR(COUNTIF(A2,{"estimator*","manager*"})),"",A2)

    Corrected
    Last edited by AlKey; 10-27-2014 at 02:29 PM.

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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    You are all too fantastic! Heroes of the day!

    ETA: It wasn't working at first and thought I had just missed some syntax. Thank you so much!

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    Re: If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell

    You're welcome. Don't forget to thank those who helped by clicking on Add Reputation * and please mark thread as "Solved" if your issue has been resolved. (Selecting Thread Tools-> Mark thread as Solved).

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