Excel Formula Help for Finding and Extracting Data

**dlaw13** · 01-21-2010, 01:19 PM

Hello, I am in need of a formula or method to find and extract specific data from a large spreadsheet inventory into another spreadsheet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

**NBVC** · 01-21-2010, 01:31 PM

To best describe or illustrate your problem you would be better off attaching a dummy workbook, the workbook should contain the same structure and some dummy data of the same type as the type you have in your real workbook - so, if a cell contains numbers & letters in this format abc-123 then that should be reflected in the dummy workbook.

If needed supply a before and after sheet in the workbook so the person helping you can see what you are trying to achieve.

Doing this will ensure you get the result you need!

**dlaw13** · 01-21-2010, 01:40 PM

dummy workbood is attached. the first data set is what i currently have, the second data set below it is what i would like to find and extract out onto another spreadsheet.

**NBVC** · 01-21-2010, 01:44 PM

So is it anything that starts with n in column D?

**dlaw13** · 01-21-2010, 02:13 PM

yes, anything beginning with n. but in general id like to be able to pick out anything beginning with "x" or "x-6" and extract the entire row out.

**NBVC** · 01-21-2010, 02:28 PM

See attached..

Input Cell is A12

Formula in E2: =COUNTIF(D$2:D2,"*"&$A$12&"*") copied down to count the number of wildcard matches...

Formula in F2: =MAX($E$2:$E$7) to determine total matches

Formula in A14: =IF(ROWS($A$1:$A1)>$F$2,"",INDEX(A$2:A$7,MATCH(ROWS($A$1:$A1),$E$2:$E$7,0)))

copied down as far as you want and across 4 columns

Adjust all ranges, references to suit.

**dlaw13** · 01-21-2010, 03:10 PM

so then how do you go about extracting the data that your formula selects?

"filter by selected cells value"?

hold on a sec. ill fool around with this for a bit and get back to you, thanks