Using Match to look for multiple strings and how to evaluate a #NO MATCH

Jason Hidek

Ok, I am trying to find a way to use Match to look for two values in a column and return the first one found. I know you cannot look for multiple strings in the same formula (at least I haven't been able to write one), so I created two helper columns. The first helper column looks for string A and the second helper column looks for string B.

So one helper column will return the Match index value like "4" and the other column will return the "#NO MATCH" since its always one or the other.

So then I was going to create the final column to look at both helper columns and pull the one with the number.

So the question I have, is how can you read a #NO MATCH in a formula? Its not an ISERROR or anything. And if I write something like =if([HelperA]#1="#NO MATCH",[HelperB}#1,[HelperA]#1)

And you cant use it through an IF statement with the MATCH formula cause the match formula always returns a value or #NO MATCH.

JBG

@Jason Hidek

Perhaps only have one helper column. This column is then a concatenation of the two columns you need to validate, as follows:

[Helper Column] = [Column1]+[Column2]

Your match formula then becomes

match([Column1]+[Colum2];[Helper Column]:[Helper Column];0)

This solution assumes that the result of [Column1]+[Column2] is unique, to ensure only one row matches.

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"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'"

JBG

@Jason Hidek

Perhaps only have one helper column. This column is then a concatenation of the two columns you need to validate, as follows:

[Helper Column] = [Column1]+[Column2]

Your match formula then becomes

match([Column1]+[Colum2];[Helper Column]:[Helper Column];0)

This solution assumes that the result of [Column1]+[Column2] is unique, to ensure only one row matches.

===========================================

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'"

Jason Hidek

Not quite, but you gave me the idea to think backwards and just create a helper status column To only show if the status is DELAYED or IN PROGRESS.

=IF(OR(Status@row = "In Progress", Status@row = "Delayed"), "IPD", "")

Then I just run the match of the helper column to look for IPD.

Thanks !