Let me rephrase my question:

You say that once you find the serial number that contains a particular
string, you will want the data returned from Columns B, C, and D of that
row.

My question is, whether or not there are exact duplicate serial numbers
containing that particular string, or ... other, different serial numbers
with that string included, will the data in the adjoining Columns B, C, and
D be *different* for each of these occurrences (matches), where you will
want numerous different rows of data returned?

In other words, Vlookup() will return *only* the first occurrence of a
match.
This will give you *one* set of returns from the referenced columns in the
"found" row,

If the duplicate serial numbers in that first column have the identical data
in those referenced columns (B, C, D), then you *don't* need multiple
returns.

Follow?

Say you're looking for a serial number containing the string:
101M
Which you enter in say, G1.

Say you datalist is in A2 to D2000, with the serial numbers listed down
Column A.

This will find the *first* occurrence of a s/n containing that string match,
and return the data from the 2nd column (B):

=VLOOKUP("*"&G1&"*",A2:D2000,2,0)

You could revise this so that you could copy it across columns, along a row,
to return the data in the 3rd and 4th columns (C and D) of the datalist:

=VLOOKUP("*"&$G$1&"*",$A$2:$D$2000,COLUMNS($A:B),0)

*BUT* ... this will give you only *one set* of data.

Is this good enough?

Hello RD thanks for "jumping in",

There will possibly be multiple matches (duplicate serial numbers) but
not many and I would gladly look these up manually. I could make them
unique but that too is a long manual process.

I'm getting frustrated...a thought just "hit me", could I do a macro/
routine that would automate the Edit/Find function?

Many thanks,

Steve

On Jan 12, 11:24 am, "RagDyeR" <ragd...@cutoutmsn.com> wrote: