Finding Similar Cells

**mikemeadeuk** · 11-03-2010, 06:19 AM

Hi Guys,

I have a little problem, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction?

Basically, I have a column of product names, and adjacent to that I have the ID's to those product names.

So for example:

Column A (Name)-------------------------Column B (ID)
Sony XYZ Laptop--------------------------78584
Sony ABC Laptop-------------------------56425
Toshiba 789 TV-----------------------------24512
Toshiba 123 TV-----------------------------36598

I want to be able to find the closest match to each product name and copy that ID into column C. So for example, the 2 sony laptop would want to be matched together because they both have "sony" and "laptop" and they are the closest match in this example.

So in column C, I want to display the matched products ID. For example:

Column A (Name)--------------Column B (ID)--------------Column C (Matched ID)
Sony XYZ Laptop---------------78584-------------------------56425
Sony ABC Laptop--------------56425-------------------------78584
Toshiba 789 TV------------------24512
Toshiba 123 TV------------------36598

Does anyone know of any way I could possibly do this? I hope I have explained it properly! I think the formula is going to need to find matched words (so, text within spaces) and then find the closest match by the highest number of matching words, and then copy the ID for that product.

I really hope this makes sense and I hope someone has an idea of how I can accomplish this mighty task!

Thanks guys

Mike

**royUK** · 11-03-2010, 06:26 AM

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!

**mikemeadeuk** · 11-03-2010, 06:35 AM

Hi,

thank you for the advice, I have attached the excel file that I am working with and just narrowed it down to 100 products. But there are thousands that I need to work with.

I hope this is sufficient enough for someone to be able to help.

Thanks

Mike