Vlookup matching first x characters, showing up as #N/A

[jager]

Hi,

I'm trying to use vlookup and left to compare 2 sets of data. Sheet 1 has an everchanging list of companies and sheet 2 is another list of companies (with possibly different suffixes, which is why a straight vlookup isn't working). I want for a result to show up when the first 8 characters are a match.

However when I try to insert the LEFT function I always seem to get the #N/A error. I've created a workbook with some generic company names, can anyone see where I'm going wrong? Or is there maybe a better way of achieving what I want? The code I have now is: =VLOOKUP(LEFT(A1,8),Sheet2!A1:A11,1,0)

Thanks

[Teethless mama]

=VLOOKUP(LEFT(A1,8)&"*",Sheet2!A$1:A$11,1,0)

[jager]

Ah that was it! I saw the &"*" once before on this forum but couldn't find it again for the life of me.

Cheers!