is it impossible to match 2 columns & return values from a 3rd when a match is found

**excel_try** · 10-04-2008, 12:40 PM

hello,

i have two files, each files has a list of countries as one column and second column a number of employees. I want to find the country from the 1st file, in the list of the countries of the second file, and when a match is found, a formula should take the respective number of employees from this second file, and transfer/copy them to the relevant/respective country in the 1st file. That is, the column with number of employees in the first file is empty, and it has to be filled in with the same number of empl. from the 2nd file, once the matching country (i.e. a country with the same name) is found between the two files,

any idea how to proceed?

thx

**mdbct** · 10-04-2008, 11:33 PM

You can do this with the VLOOKUP function. You'll need both files open to set the formula up. The formula would be something like:

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**excel_try** · 10-05-2008, 04:40 AM

..........

**excel_try** · 10-05-2008, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by mdbct

You can do this with the VLOOKUP function. You'll need both files open to set the formula up. The formula would be something like:

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hallo,

thx for the reply, but vlookup is not working:

1. i am comparing text
2. i have >100 countries, and with vlookup i have to type every single one, and this is what i want to escape (mb i need to refer to an array, or string, or no idea)
3. mb a solution could be sth with index, or match, i just tried it, copying some similar formula from www, but it didn't match the countries, and return the value respective for that country.

E.g. I have China in col1 (1st file), #employees 10 in col2 (1st file), and China in Col 1 in 2nd file. So, a formula should match China & China from both files, and return 10 as number of employees.

If you see a solution, pls. let me know,

thx a lot...

**Andy Pope** · 10-05-2008, 04:52 AM

The VLOOKUP formula will work if the text for CHINA is the same in both workbooks.

Does the formula return #N/A, if so this would suggest that the countries names are not identical.

Post example of your data. For helping with your problem put the different workbook data on different worksheets in the 1 workbook.

**excel_try** · 10-11-2008, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Andy Pope

The VLOOKUP formula will work if the text for CHINA is the same in both workbooks.

Does the formula return #N/A, if so this would suggest that the countries names are not identical.

Post example of your data. For helping with your problem put the different workbook data on different worksheets in the 1 workbook.

thx, i got it solved