2 workbooks - how do I find duplicate entries by comparing the two

I have got 2 workbooks with a list of names. I need to find out if a name
appears in both books.
One of the workbooks came from a different source and the other one is a
report I ran from our database.

I need to find out whether the workbook from out of the company has got any
of our own names on it.

I am using Microsoft Excel 97 and am fairly new at this so please be gentle.
One way I did think was to combine the two workbooks into one and find the
duplicates but thought there may be another way.

Thank you.

Hi "queen on",

Assume that In book1 the names are in column A, starting in row 2.
Assume that in book2 the names are in Sheet1, column B!
Then in book1 choose an unused helper column, say column Z! Place in cell Z2

=MATCH(A2;[book2.xls]Sheet1!$B:$B;0)

Fill it down until your last row!

It will give you the row number in book2, Sheet1 where the name was found or
#N/A if the name was not found.

Regards,
Stefi

„queen on” ezt �*rta:

> I have got 2 workbooks with a list of names. I need to find out if a name
> appears in both books.
> One of the workbooks came from a different source and the other one is a
> report I ran from our database.
>
> I need to find out whether the workbook from out of the company has got any
> of our own names on it.
>
> I am using Microsoft Excel 97 and am fairly new at this so please be gentle.
> One way I did think was to combine the two workbooks into one and find the
> duplicates but thought there may be another way.
>
> Thank you.

Hello
You could use a lookup formula
in your companys workbook in column next to names use a formula like
=if(isna(vlookup(rc[-1],[book1]sheet1!a:a,1,0)),"unique","duplicate")
where book1 is other workbook assuming data in column a if a name matches
cell will be duplicate if not unique.This will only find exact match


"queen on" wrote:

> I have got 2 workbooks with a list of names. I need to find out if a name
> appears in both books.
> One of the workbooks came from a different source and the other one is a
> report I ran from our database.
>
> I need to find out whether the workbook from out of the company has got any
> of our own names on it.
>
> I am using Microsoft Excel 97 and am fairly new at this so please be gentle.
> One way I did think was to combine the two workbooks into one and find the
> duplicates but thought there may be another way.
>
> Thank you.