Comments on: Simulating a LIKE function

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:24:00 +0000

Hi, Mike

For a worksheet formula, something like
=isnumber(match(check_item,list_range,0))

(Of course IN is available in SQL within Excel.)

regards, Pete

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Anyone know how to simulate a sql “in” operator in Excel?

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Thanks Dick, you’re a lifesaver!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:33:00 +0000

Thanks. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this in Excel for an eternity.

By: tuxedobuford

tuxedobuford — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Found it..COUNTIF(RANGE,"*" & CELL & "*")
whereas RANGE is my search range and CELL contains the string I'm counting.

Thanks.

By: tuxedobuford

tuxedobuford — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:13:00 +0000

Hi, I'd like to use a cell reference instead of a defined string but can't seem to get the syntax correct when combining the wildcard with the cell reference. Any ideas?

Thanks.

By: J-Walk

J-Walk — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 18:55:00 +0000

And if you don't mind a little VBA, this function simulates Like exactly:

Function ISLIKE(arg, pattern As String) As Boolean
' Returns true if the first argument is like the second
ISLIKE = arg Like pattern
End Function

Example:

=ISLIKE(UPPER(A1),UPPER("*[aeiou]*"))

Returns TRUE if cell A1 contains a vowel (upper or lower case)