Comparing Columns

[jprescottjr]

Hi, i need a formula that would compare the first 8 characters of one column to the second 8 characters of the next column, and if they didn't match wit would give me an error.
for example:
column a has 02908956_1944-05-23_1Electric Log and column b 02908956.tif it would be good.

[NBVC]

Are you matching entries in single rows?

e.g

=LEFT(A2,8)=B2

this compare A2 to B2 and returns TRUE if matched.

If you want to search column B for a Match

=Isnumber(match(Left(A2,8),B:B,0))

copied down.

[jprescottjr]

Not sure, I use it to rename files, but i want to make sure that the first 8 characters match in each column.one is the original file name, one is the name it is going to be after the rename

[JulieM]

try (in space c1 for example)
=IF(LEFT(A1,8)=LEFT(B1,8),"match","mismatch")

oops - see another reply while I was in process - sorry

[jprescottjr]

You are Awesome!!!!!!