Comparing 2 excel files cell by cell based on a common column

[vineet912]

Hi All,


First of all let me thank all of you for the good work. I'm simply amazed with the excel expertise I see on this forum and I would like you to guide me in getting solution/ideas to my requirement which is as follows -


I am looking for a excel formula / way to compare two excel files row by row and output the difference in a third file. Both the files should be matched with first column name and then the entire row contents of those matching columns should be compared with one another. The first cell of each row may not be in the same order in both the files and could be present in haphazard manner.


E.g.


File1


Ram abc def aaa bbb

Shyam ccc ddd xyz


File2


Shyam xyz www

Ram abc aaa bbb eee


Output desired (file3)


Ram eee

Shyam www


Output will be selected only when contents of a cell in file2 does not match with that of file1 and not vice versa. Pls. feel free to ask for any clarification required.


Thanks in advance.


Vineet

 

[jason]

are the values in the first Col (Ram, Shyam, etc) unique for each row or can there be multiple rows with the same value??


Example:

Ram ccc aaa

Shyam aaa vvvv

.

.

.

Ram eee bbb??


if the values can repeat, this will make it a bit more challenging. also, it would be HIGHLY recommened that the rows are sorted alphabettically (if possible) to make comparing them as easy/straight forward as can be.