Vlookup where text not exact

I want to lookup a text field, but although the field I am looking up against
contains the text in my lookup field, it is not exact so Vlookup is not
returning the value, i.e. the field I am using to identify against contains
first initial and surname and the sheet I am looking up contains full name.
I have tried the True option, but it doesn't work properly for all of the
entries. Is there another formula to use.

You could use the MATCH and INDEX functions to find a value. For
example, with the name to look up in cell B9, and the lookup table in
cells B3:D6 --

=INDEX($C$3:$C$6,MATCH(LEFT(B9,1) & "*" &
RIGHT(B9,LEN(B9)-2),$B$3:$B$6,0))

Janicej wrote:
> I want to lookup a text field, but although the field I am looking up against
> contains the text in my lookup field, it is not exact so Vlookup is not
> returning the value, i.e. the field I am using to identify against contains
> first initial and surname and the sheet I am looking up contains full name.
> I have tried the True option, but it doesn't work properly for all of the
> entries. Is there another formula to use.


--
Debra Dalgleish
Contextures
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html