From a global listing to a packing list (bad title sorry)

**yannickhk** · 06-03-2009, 10:26 AM

Hi all

First, let me thank all of you, excel experts for this amazing site. I've been using this software for quite a while and have created pretty neat spreadsheets but i have hit a snag with one of my project. I'll try to explain the problem as well as i can but I am French and my English is far from being fluent so ...

Alright, I am a wood logs trader. Wood logs are being sold per cbm (cylindrical volume). Each log has its own number, length and diameter. Once you bought the parcel, the owner of the forest gives you the listing of the logs. Nothing to it, it's just a list of all the logs with their specifications and numbers.
We load these logs into 40' containers. Usually, we measure the logs while loading but not anymore, now the logs have already been measured and are being loaded randomly, hence my problem. Let me give you an example, let's say that I bought a parcel of logs of 100 pieces, marked with numbers from 1 to 100 for a total of 100 cbm. Each log has its own length and diameter of course (like 1 - 10m length - 42cm diameter . 2 - 6 - 52 etc...). The first container has been loaded with 5 pieces: number 6, 15, 52, 74, 75.
My question is, if i input the list of all the logs, would it be possible to create the packing list per container just by typing the log number and letting excel get the length and diameter automatically from the global listing?
Because, let me tell you, getting through 2000 numbers to find the length and diameter of each of 15 logs loaded in one container, and thus for 50 containers really ain't fun

I've attached an example of packing list for one container to give you an idea (don't pay any attention to the color, it's just different qualities). I didn't attach any global listing though. The only difference is that it is much longer and in numerical order.
I really hope that someone could help me because I just couldn't figure it out.

Thanks in advance.

Nick

**shg** · 06-03-2009, 10:47 AM

Sure. Make a list of all the logs with the log number in the leftmost column (the 'global list), and then use VLOOKUP formulas to retrieve the details from the packout list for each container.