The usual way
- VLOOKUP returns #N/A because of a trailing space
- "Acme Ltd" and "ACME Limited" refuse to match
- You find the rows that silently failed only after sending the file
Lookups across sheets
Match data between two spreadsheets without VLOOKUP
Tell CTRON Loop which list to match against and it finds the right row even when names are spelled differently, words are in a different order or Excel has hidden invisible characters in the cells. Anything it cannot match with confidence is flagged for you, never guessed.
orders.xlsx + customers.xlsx
CustomerOrder Value→Customer NameAccount Manager
You askAdd the account manager to every order from the Customers sheet.
- Every order matched to its account
- Near-misses matched despite typos
- Unsure matches raised as questions
- Unmatched rows on a Not found sheet
What changes
Stop rebuilding it by hand.
With CTRON Loop
- Describe the lookup in one sentence
- Spelling, word order and invisible characters are handled
- Every unmatched row is listed, so nothing slips through
What you get
Everything you need, from one file.
Forgiving, not reckless
Matches survive typos, reordered words and invisible characters. When two candidates are close, you are asked which one is right.
Nothing silently dropped
Rows that could not be matched land on their own Not found sheet, so you can see exactly what needs attention.
A real Excel file back
Download an .xlsx with the result, a Summary sheet and an Issues sheet, ready to send or keep working on.
Repeatable
Save the lookup as a Loop on Pro and run it again on next week's export without redoing any of it.
How to do it
4 steps. Plain English throughout.
No formulas, no templates to set up. Describe what you need the way you would to a colleague.
Upload both files
Add the file you want to enrich and the reference list to match against. They can be two files or two sheets in the same workbook.
Describe the match
Say which column to match on and which fields to bring across.
Try typingMatch Customer to Customer Name on the Customers sheet and add Account Manager and Region.
Answer any questions
If a value could plausibly match more than one row, you are shown the options and choose. Confident matches go straight through.
Download the workbook
Export an .xlsx with the matched data, a Summary sheet, an Issues sheet and a Not found sheet for anything without a match.
Worked example
What a typical lookup looks like
An orders export lists customers the way the sales team typed them. The CRM export lists the official account names. Ask to bring the account manager and region across from the CRM list onto every order.
Match your spreadsheets free
Free plan. No card needed.
- Exact and near-exact names matched automatically
- "Smith & Co" and "Smith and Company" recognised as the same customer
- A short Not found list instead of a column full of #N/A
Questions
Good to know.
Is this a VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP alternative?
Yes. It does the same job, bringing values across from another sheet, but it tolerates spelling differences, word order and hidden characters that make VLOOKUP return #N/A.
Will it guess when it is not sure?
No. When a value could match more than one row, it asks you to choose. Values with no match are listed on a Not found sheet.
Can I match across sheets in the same workbook?
Yes. The reference list can be another sheet in the same Excel workbook or a separate file.
Do I get an Excel file back?
Yes. You can export a real .xlsx containing the result plus Summary, Issues and Not found sheets.
Is it free?
Spreadsheet preparation is available on the Free plan within its monthly allowance. Saving it as a reusable Loop starts on Pro.
Do it once. Run it again in one click.
Bring the file behind your next recurring task and see a real result in the next few minutes.
Match your spreadsheets free Free plan. No card needed.