=ISNUMBER(LOOKUP(9.99999999999999E+307,SEARCH(IF(B1:B20<>"",B1:B20,-9.99999999999999E+307),A1)))+0

which needs to be confirmed with control+shift+enter, not just with enter.

Prohock wrote:
> Thanks to everyone for their assistance, it works perfect! One more question,
> How would you adapt the formula so that it test any value that is located in
> Column B. Currently if I try to test the entire column I get false results
> because of blank cells? Ie
>
> "Aladin Akyurek" wrote:
>
>
>>=ISNUMBER(LOOKUP(9.99999999999999E+307,SEARCH($B$1:$B$3,A1)))+0
>>
>>A result of 1 means a hit, 0 no hit.
>>
>>Prohock wrote:
>>
>>>I need a function that will use a column of text values and test these values
>>>to see if one or more of the values exist in a single cell. If it does I need
>>>the function to return true or false.
>>>
>>>Ie. cell A1 contains the text "Jim Smith" the B column contains the test
>>>names (column of test values ) ie. B1 is "bill" B2 is "fred" B3 is "jim".
>>>Because Jim is in the cell A1 I would need the function in C1 to return the
>>>value "true". If A1 contained the text "bob smith" then function in C1 would
>>>return the value "false".
>>