Enter the Fuzzy Lookup Add-In for Excel
The Fuzzy Lookup add-in for Excel performs fuzzy matching of textual data in Excel.
Download the tool from here: a look at the Fuzzy Lookup tool released by Microsoft Labs. We can use Excel Fuzzy Lookup Add-In to match similar, but not exactly matching data. FUZZY LOOKUP returns a table of matched similar data in the chosen column. FUZZY LOOKUP is useful for comparing two same data sets where one of them comes from an external source and can be misspelled or typed incorrectly. This article will guide all levels of excel users on how to use FUZZY LOOKUP. Fuzzy Duplicate Finder is a tool for Microsoft Excel 2016 - 2007 that helps you find and correct similar records. The add-in quickly performs approximate match according to the settings you select and changes all typos into the correct equivalents of your choice. How to use the Find Fuzzy Duplicates tool. Start Find Fuzzy Duplicates. Download Excel File: how to perform a partial text lookup; Finding “Coca Cola” in “Coca Cola Inc.” or the reve. To do the fuzzy merge, you start by doing a merge. In this case, you'll use a left outer join, where the left table is the one from the survey and the right table is the Fruits reference table. At the bottom of the dialog box, select the Use fuzzy matching to perform the merge check box. After you select OK, you can see a new column in your table because of this merge operation.
You can use this add-in to cleanup difficult problems like weeding out (“fuzzy match”) duplicate rows within a single table where the duplicates *are* duplicates but don’t match exactly or to “fuzzy join” similar rows between two different tables.
The add-in is remarkably powerful, especially to a user who’s only used to matching functions like VLOOKUP.
Let’s take a look at my basic example to get you started. Really, this outcome could be achived by some simple find/replace editing but hopefully it’s enough for you to see the potential power in this process. Hopefully you’ll have a go yourself!
Firstly, install the add-in by following these instructions. When you’re done, head back to this post!
To prepare, you’ll need your two (or three, or four!) separate data sets in separate tabs. I make each one a table, by selecting the sheet and pressing CTRL-L on the data.
Fuzzy Excel Mac
You’ll note a Fuzzy Lookup tab has appeared in the toolbar across the top of your Excel application. Clicking the tab opens this Fuzzy Lookup task pane:
The process to set up a match requires you to select one or more data points from each table to create a “fuzzy data binding”. In short, match rows by identifying similar matches between these columns.
Can you see why that’s so powerful now? None of the data items need to be exactly the same, just similar enough, or more similar than any other possible matches in the data set.
So, in my case something like this should be enough:
While some of the column headers have the same name, the actual data is not exactly the same!
Excel Fuzzy Logic
When you’re happy with your selection, click the little button between the selected data points. The match is then added here:
In the Output Columns section, check the box next to each field you want included in your results. Open a new tab (or fuzzy match will dutifully scribble all over your data!)
Click Go when you’re ready.
In my simple example I’ve matched a list of similar products that all have a “unique SKU” because of the size variable added to the product data.
The results can be a bit fiddly to get right at first, and you should experiment with the match table, number of matches settings and similarity score to get to a point where you’re comfortable. Audition cs2.
Fortunately, there’s an undo button in the tool, so you can rinse and repeat until you’re happy.
Enjoy!