# I want to match amounts from one excel sheet to another, but using two element requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322 "2012-06-06T22:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sticknoteforlife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@sticknoteforlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sticknoteforlife)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322/1 "2012-06-06T22:33:43Z")
I have to organize the raw data from Workbook 1 so that I can copy and paste the base amounts into Workbook 2 based on ID# and customer names. Each customer name is matched with an ID#. Many different customer names also have the same ID#. I have to match Workbook 2 with two elements: ID# and customer names. I have been creating a pivot table with the raw data and manually opening up both documents and typing in the numbers. That is how I was told to do it. I know it can be done using automated method with VLOOKUP (which I don’t know how to use). IS THIS POSSIBLE?? PLEASE HELP! ---
**Author:** ![sticknoteforlife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@sticknoteforlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sticknoteforlife)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322/2 "2012-06-06T22:42:13Z")
Actually, I have to match up the DEPT# with the UNIT# and with the COMPANY NAME from Workbook 1 to spit out the base amount onto Workbook 2. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322/3 "2012-06-06T23:05:26Z")
Not exactly sure what you’re trying to do, but maybe Data Consolidation is what you need: [http://www.addictivetips.com/microsoft-office/excel-2010-merge-spreadsheets-using-consolidate-data/](http://www.addictivetips.com/microsoft-office/excel-2010-merge-spreadsheets-using-consolidate-data/) ---
**Author:** ![FasterThanMeerkats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@FasterThanMeerkats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FasterThanMeerkats)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322/4 "2012-06-07T12:31:55Z")
Use concatenate (or &) to create a custom column that combines the ID and Name so you end up with something like “1234Bob Jones.” You can then do a vlookup or pivot table or with that column. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-match-amounts-from-one-excel-sheet-to-another-but-using-two-element-requirements/624322/5 "2012-06-07T12:39:45Z")
> [@FasterThanMeerkats](#): > > Use concatenate (or &) to create a custom column that combines the ID and Name so you end up with something like “1234Bob Jones.” You can then do a vlookup or pivot table or with that column. I tend to combine the steps: I create a reference column for the page where the data I need to read is with concatenate, but then my VLOOKUP goes along the lines of =VLOOKUP(A2&“+”&B2&“+”&C2;etcetc The + are there as separators, because due to the nature of my data I need to be able to differentiate “123456”&“”&“ghyt” from “123456”&“ghyt”&“”. The “concatenate on the run” method is not one I’d recommend on first try, but it’s a possibility once you’ve got practice with this stuff.