copy/paste multiple values based on time/date stamp

**qwerty1945** · 02-16-2012, 06:56 PM

I have two sets of columns. Each set has two columns.

For the 1st set, the left column is a date/time stamp, and the right column is an input value. These values have generally been taken every other hour, with a few consecutive hours mixed in.

For the 2nd set, the left column is a date/time stamp, and the right column is an output value. These values have generally been taken every hour, with a few skipped hours of no values.

I would like to create a 3rd set with three columns: #1 = date/time stamp (every consecutive hour - no problem I can do that); #2 input values; #3 output values. Here are is my issues - how would I copy from the 1st set and then paste to the 3rd set #2 column according to is associated date/time stamp? And then how would I copy from the 2nd set and then paste to the 3rd set #3 column according to its associated date/time stamp? I have over 10,000 data points so I was hoping there is a repetitive process.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

**arlu1201** · 02-17-2012, 02:45 AM

It will be good if you post some sample data. Upload an excel file with some dummy data in the exact same layout as your original data.

**FDibbins** · 02-17-2012, 04:29 AM

Sounds like a vlookup would work for this.

=vlookup("the time you want",range,"table1 col2,false)
and then the same for the next column.

However, this will only find the 1st reference to the time you are looking at and would ignore any additional references to that same time

**qwerty1945** · 02-17-2012, 11:10 AM

@ arlu1201: Please find some data attached from my spreadsheet. As you can see in set #1 and #2, if you look at the same row, there are different times becuase of the hourly or every other hour data input which makes it impossible to copy and paste a whole set of data from either #1 or #2 into #3 because they would not line up with the correct time in #3.

@ fdibbins: thanks for the tip. i will try that and see if it works.