How to extract/link related data from two separate data sets

I have two very large related data sets. The data in set #1 contains certain data about a large number of pipes. Data set #2 contains different information about the same pipes. Each pipe is represented by the same ID # in both data sets. I need to get certain data about each pipe but some of that data is in data set #1 and the rest of it is in data set #2. What I need to do is link up each pipe's data in set#1 to that same pipe's data in set #2 so I can then extract the information I need. Both data sets are ordered differently and since there are so many pipes it is impossible to just search each pipes ID# and record the information I need. Is there anything that I can do in excel that will link each pipes info from both data sets all in one spot together since that ID# is the same in both sets? Thank you!

Another way to think of it is if you have two big bags of pieces of paper and there is an "A" on one piece of paper which also contains half of a clue to solving a puzzle. This paper is in bag #1. There is also a piece of paper with another "A" on it in bag #2 that contains the other half of that clue. The pieces of paper are all mixed up. I need excel to do something that will pull the piece of paper with the "A" on it from bag #1 and also pull the other "A" paper from bag #2 so that I can get the full clue.

You can use the VLOOKUP function to do this, but you are unlikely to get a more specific answer as your description is a bit vague and does not describe what data you have and which columns it is stored in.

It would help if you attached a sample Excel workbook (not a picture), and use that to show your data layout and desired outcome.

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Hope this helps.

Pete

I cannot attach the actual workbook but I will try to make a similar one and post it in a few minutes.

Here you go. My actual file is much much larger but the idea is the same. Sheet 1 is like data set #1 from my original post and sheet 2 is like data set #2. Sheet 3 is the result I am trying to get.

Assuming you have your IDs listed in column A of Sheet3, you can use this formula in B2:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet1!A:B,2,0),"")

and this one in C2:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!A:D,4,0),"")

then copy both formulae down as far as you need to.

Hope this helps.

Pete

Exactly what I needed. Thank you.

That's good to hear - glad to help.

If that takes care of your original question, please take a moment to select Thread Tools from the menu above and to the right of your first post and mark this thread as SOLVED.

Also, since you are relatively new to the forum, you might like to know that you can directly thank those who have helped you by clicking on the small "star" icon located in the lower left corner of a post that you have found to be helpful (not just in this thread - for any post that has helped you). This also adds to the reputation of the poster (the small green bars in the poster's profile).

Pete