highlighting data pulled from vlookup

Yes, I'm using the vlookup formula to pull several columns worth of data from my source file which has about 20000 rows to my destination file which has about 15000 rows referencing serial numbers. I was wondering if there is a way to highlight/identify the serial numbers that were pulled from my source file on my source file? In other words, I would like to see on my source file what exactly was pulled.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Hey Slim,

Can you post a sample of your workbook?

It may help people understand the data set, it's layout, format ect.

You may consider changing the tittle too as it's not vlookup help you need!

Hi Slim - I have pasted Forum Rule Num 1 (see below).

Generally, people are more inclined to help you when you help them. By dropping superflous words like help and eroneous tittles. In saying that, I too sometimes struggle with tittles when I dont know what function I need!!! Its the donald Rumsfeld scenario.

Use concise, accurate thread titles. Your post title should describe your problem, not your anticipated solution. Use terms appropriate to a Google search. Poor thread titles, like Please Help, Urgent, Need Help, Formula Problem, Code Problem, and Need Advice will be addressed according to the OP's experience in the forum: If you have less than 10 posts, expect (and respond to) a request to change your thread title. If you have 10 or more posts, expect your post to be locked, so you can start a new thread with an appropriate title.

Like you I know not of a function which highlights "pulled data". I will look into and post back. I reckon though that s'one will be able to help you.

There are some real experts here.

Cheers

Perhaps you can use a MATCH() function.

e.g.

=ISNUMBER(MATCH(A1,B:B,0))

you need to insert the appropriate Path and adjust the ranges... but basically, this looks for a MATCH in column B to what is entered in A1 and returns TRUE if a match is found.

Hey Slim - I'm glad that s'one could help you. I'm going try NBVC's suggestion out myself and save it to my excel bag!!

All the best mate

you could try conditional formatting, is there a possibility that there might be a match for a number that wasn't pulled through from a Vlookup? if not, then NVBC's formula can be adapted for a CF. But if there is a possibility a number might be on the same page as the vlookups but not pulled through from them, then that would be highlighted also

scottylad2,

Note that the OP is working with 2 workbooks... at least that is what I assume by the nomenclature source file and destination file.

If you use the formula I suggested in the Source file, then you can use those results to highlight the corresponding item to the TRUE's

Originally Posted by NBVC

scottylad2,

Note that the OP is working with 2 workbooks... at least that is what I assume by the nomenclature source file and destination file.

If you use the formula I suggested in the Source file, then you can use those results to highlight the corresponding item to the TRUE's

I agree, but what your formula will do will match anything thats in A1 (source) with whatevers in the results file (B;B) that matches,but my point was is there a possibility that anything else could be in B:B other than what was pulled through from the Vlookup. For instance A1 might contain the figure 22 and in the results column if 22 were there it would show TRUE regardless of whether it was in B:B as result of a Vlookup.

So, is it only possible to have the results of the Vlookup in B:B or could there be other data thats there but not a pulled through result. If there's no other data, then your formula will sit nicely in a conditional format