Retrive Data

I have a workbook that contains a formatted financial statement that we have for input of a paper copy balance sheet we receive from the accountants to calculate our FAS 109 provision. I want to receive it as a text file and import into another tab in the workbook. However, my issue is I need to search the imported spreadsheet for a specific text in column A and then get the amount in the cell right next to it in column B. I cannot just link the two worksheets together as the imported spreadsheet rows will not always be in the same position because if there is no acitivty during the month the account will not show up in the text file for import. Additionally, I do not think VLOOKUP will work as column A import is not in order and the text of the accounts in column A are not the same in trying to compare the names.

I appreciate any help!

Are the columns always in the same position in the import?

If so you can use INDEX & MATCH
the formula below, in Book2 column B, says:
INDEX(the database in columns A thru D in Book2
use the Row number that MATCHes A1 in this (Book1)
use the 4th column in the database

=INDEX([Book2]Sheet1!$A:$D,MATCH(A1,[Book2]Sheet1!$A:$A,0),4)


it will return the data from Book2 Column D in the row which matches the data in Cell A1 Book1

That will not work as I said in the previous post the text will not always be the same so it cannot be matched. For example, I want to take the amounts in CASH ON HAND & ON DEPOSIT and SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS in one worksheet from column B and sum them in one account in column B in another worksheet called CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.

can you post a sample of your files?

explain what the variation in texts and file formats are and what your desired end result is

For CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, you would need a formula something like,

=SUMPRODUCT( ([thatbook.xls]Sheet1!$A1:$A100={"CASH ON HAND & ON DEPOSIT","SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS"}) * [thatbook.xls]Sheet1!$B1:$B100)