Comparing one set of data to a larger "database" (fingerprint matching)

[plasmid]

Hello there -

I'm in a bit of a snag and figured I'd come here to see if anyone could offer me some advice/help with my problem.

Basically, I need to find a way to get Excel to function as a "fingerprint matching" tool.

I have a set of data and a larger database with many (133 entries) other sets of data. I need a way to take the test set and compare it to the sets in the database to see if it matches.

The sets do not all have the same number of entries (one set may have 5 bands, one set may have 8 bands, etc.)

The data does not need to be an exact match; there should be some degree of similarity (probably a limit of 10-20% difference)

I'll post some sample data below to help explain:

Test Set:
Band 1 = 3558
Band 2 = 5198
Band 3 = 8730


Database:
Sample 1
Band 1 = 1256
Band 2 = 7290

Sample 2
Band 1 = 3540
Band 2 = 5100
Band 2 = 8729

Sample 3
Band 1 = 3440
Band 2 = 4590
Band 3 = 5000
Band 4 = 8612

Looking at the test set and comparing it to the database sets, you can see that it's pretty close to Sample 2, but also "kind of" close to Sample 3, if that second band weren't there.

I have no idea how to approach this; I need a way to get Excel to cut me some slack, because manually comparing a set to 133 other sets every time I need to make comparisons is way too time comsuming.

((As to why I don't have access to "professional software" - my boss is cheap. Incredibly cheap. It's less expensive for him to pay me to slave over this than to make a one-time software purchase.))

[thameem127]

Such long explanation it is better to attach a file to understand easily what you need?.

[plasmid]

I can't post the entire file, but I can post a section of it.

Basically, I need a way to compare the data for Sample 1 to every other sample listed (through 133) and find any matches/close matches.

Does this help?