MS Excel / VBA help thread

I don't think it will be that hard.
Intensive maybe.

Determining whether each of 200 numbers is present in a static list of 16,000 numbers in Excel can be achieved using various methods, but the efficiency and difficulty can vary depending on the approach you take.

Here are a few options, ranging from simple to more complex:

1. Using Excel Functions (easiest):

   • You can use Excel's built-in functions like VLOOKUP, MATCH, or COUNTIF to check if each number exists in the list.
     
   • However, these functions might become slow when dealing with large datasets, especially with 16,000 numbers.
     
     

2. Conditional Formatting:

   • You could apply conditional formatting to highlight cells where the number exists in the list. This won't give you a direct list of matches but can visually identify them.
     
   • This method may also slow down with a large list of numbers.
     
     

3. VBA Scripting (more advanced):

   • Writing a VBA script (macro) can automate the process and might be more efficient for large datasets.
     
   • The VBA script can loop through each of the 200 numbers and check if it exists in the list of 16,000 numbers.
     
   • This method provides more control and potentially better performance but requires some programming knowledge.
     
     

4. Advanced Data Analysis with Power Query or Power Pivot:

   • If the data is frequently updated and you need real-time analysis, Power Query or Power Pivot might be more suitable.
     
   • You can import both lists into Power Query, merge the tables based on the numbers, and filter for matches.
     
   • This method is more complex to set up but offers powerful data analysis capabilities.
     
     

In terms of difficulty, using Excel functions might be the easiest to set up but could be slow with large datasets. VBA scripting offers more control and potentially better performance but requires programming skills. Power Query or Power Pivot provides advanced analysis capabilities but has a steeper learning curve. Ultimately, the difficulty depends on your familiarity with Excel and programming.