Excel 2003 fuzzy search for duplicate.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Asha
  • Start date Start date
A

Asha

Hello everyone,

does anyone know of an application or vb code that can be
used to search in two worksheets (like VLOOKUP) on
similar matches using fuzzy logic? For example, if on
one sheet I have I.B.M and the other IBM or James Smith
on one and Jim Smith on the other, is there anyway of
giving confidence codes to the match?

Thanks very much for your help,
 
Hi Asha,

Look at soundex codes as explained by John Walkenbach
http://www.j-walk.com/SS/excel/tips/tip77.htm

You can use the SOUNDEX function as a worksheet formula, and then use
VLOOKUP on that.

In your example, both James Smith and Jim Smith have the same soundex code
of J525.

You do need to be cautious when using this. For instance, I.B.M. and IBM
both have the same soundex code (I150), but so does IBN, which you may not
want to equate to the others.

Ed Ferrero
www.edferrero.com
 
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