File compare

Hello,

with both files open, enter this formula into Book1, where the other file is named Book2 and the names are in column A in each file:

=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A1,'[Book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0)),"not found", "matched")

copy down.

cheers, teylyn

You can also use a formula like this in column B

=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A1,'[Book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0)),0,1)

Then select column A and enter a conditional formatting using this formula

=B1

Select a format and hit OK. All matched names will now have the format you chose. You can hide column B.

cheers, teylyn

let's say if my book1.xls has:
apple
bee
cat
dog in column A, and my book2.xls has:
bee
moose
apple
tiger in column A.  
I'd like my book1.xls column B displays in a way like this:
apple  match
bee     match
cat      not match
dog     not match
I tried to put the following in B1 of book1 but did not work:
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A1,'[c:\test\Book2.xls]Sheet1'!$A:$A,0)),"not found", "matched")

Please advise again.  Thanks.

Hello,

see attached Book1 and Book2

With both workbooks open, the formula is

=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A1,[Book2.xls]Sheet1!$A:$A,0)),"not match", "match")

Save both files. When you now close Book2, the formula will change to include the correct path name automatically.

cheers, teylyn

Book1.xls
Book2.xls

Sorry.  I still cannot get it to work.  

File one has a lot more names than file two.  The goal is to see the names in file 2 show "matched" in file one  

Thanks.