Matching Data in Columns

I am trying to compare data in one column with another. Let me explain.

One column are manufacturer coupons put out in each sunday's paper. The second column is a list of coupons from a specifc store. I would like to create a forumla or something that will reflect when there is a match in each column. It can not be an exact match since the verbiage is not exactly the same. I will provide a short example.


4 Way Nasal Spray $1 (4-8-06)..............All Sunbeam heating pads: 20% off
8th Continent Soymilk .50 (3-5-06).........Aveeno Lip protectant: $2.99 (SS)
Betty Crocker Potatoes .35 (3-5-06).......Chex Mix 4.5oz .99
Boston Lens Care: $7.99.......................Clorox (60 oz): .99
Chex Mix 4.5 oz. + .50/2 (3-5-06)...........Comtrex: $5.99

Now in this example, we have a match with the Chex mix. One is a Manufacturer coupon for .50 off when you buy two, in the other column is another Chex Mix coupon for .99 cents. These are close together but in reality both columns can have hundreds of entries and even when sorted alphabetically, not be anywhere near each other. I need something that will will identify all the matches in both columns when the columns don't exactly match, possibly by the first couple words or something.

Any suggestions? Or is this possible?

Anybody got any suggestions?

Hi!

Maybe not exactly what you had in mind but at least it's something!

You would need to use specific keywords or phrases from the 2 nd column
entries and then you could search for matching keywords in the 1 st column
and use conditional formatting to highlight the matches. The big drawback
that I see is that this would have to done one at a time. The basic concept
is the same as that used in a database except that you're not wanting to
extract the data, just highlight any matches. I use this concept in my music
database (Excel) except that I do extract the data. For example, I enter a
keyword or phrase in a cell then the database is searched and every entry in
the database that contains that keyword or phrase is extracted.

Can you post a sample file?

Biff

"ebraun01" <[email protected]> wrote in
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>
> Anybody got any suggestions?
>
>
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"ebraun01" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> I am trying to compare data in one column with another. Let me explain.
>
>
> One column are manufacturer coupons put out in each sunday's paper. The
> second column is a list of coupons from a specifc store. I would like to
> create a forumla or something that will reflect when there is a match in
> each column. It can not be an exact match since the verbiage is not
> exactly the same. I will provide a short example.
>
>
> 4 Way Nasal Spray $1 (4-8-06)..............All Sunbeam heating pads:
> 20% off
> 8th Continent Soymilk .50 (3-5-06).........Aveeno Lip protectant: $2.99
> (SS)
> Betty Crocker Potatoes .35 (3-5-06).......Chex Mix 4.5oz .99
> Boston Lens Care: $7.99.......................Clorox (60 oz): .99
> Chex Mix 4.5 oz. + .50/2 (3-5-06)...........Comtrex: $5.99
>
> Now in this example, we have a match with the Chex mix. One is a
> Manufacturer coupon for .50 off when you buy two, in the other column
> is another Chex Mix coupon for .99 cents. These are close together but
> in reality both columns can have hundreds of entries and even when
> sorted alphabetically, not be anywhere near each other. I need
> something that will will identify all the matches in both columns when
> the columns don't exactly match, possibly by the first couple words or
> something.
>
> Any suggestions? Or is this possible?
>
>
> --
> ebraun01
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ebraun01's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30340
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=500035
>

Sure, since coupons are good for more than a week, next week I would add that weeks coupons. Attached is an example that has The last two weeks of manufacturers coupons and CVS's coupons beginning next week.

Hi!

There aren't a lot of options in doing this!

Here's your file:

http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...82QE4CNTQ7O76K

Read the notes.

Biff

"ebraun01" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> Sure, since coupons are good for more than a week, next week I would add
> that weeks coupons. Attached is an example that has The last two weeks
> of manufacturers coupons and CVS's coupons beginning next week.
>
>
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Filename: CVS Coupons.zip |
> |Download: http://www.excelforum.com/attachment.php?postid=4216 |
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
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> ebraun01
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> ebraun01's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30340
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=500035
>

I think this will work fine. I appreciate all that you put into it. One Question, How do I get the conditional formatting to work on column A also? I adjusted the forumula so it finds matches in that row..but the conditional formatting does not work.

Select the range A3:A250

Goto Format>Conditional Formatting
Select Formula is
Enter this formula in the little box:

=ISNUMBER(SEARCH(LOOKUP(REPT("z",255),D:D),A3))

Click the Format button
Select the style(s) desired
OK out

Biff

"ebraun01" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> I think this will work fine. I appreciate all that you put into it. One
> Question, How do I get the conditional formatting to work on column A
> also? I adjusted the forumula so it finds matches in that row..but the
> conditional formatting does not work.
>
>
> --
> ebraun01
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ebraun01's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30340
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=500035
>