thank you,
index/match = much appreciated.
sitting here going through your formula, learned more from your formula than I did searching match/index on line for 4 hrs.
bye-bye vlookup, hello, index, match.
So, not only have you saved me many hrs, processing these sheets; I think you've given me a way to adjust other vlookup formulas I've been using on other sheets.

I'm going to start calling this site 'browes & learn'

thanks you