Find Specific Text Within Cell Range

[bigmerf]

I'm looking for a way to search through a range of cells and populate another cell with that same data if specific text is found.

I've used this code to search a specific cell for contained text and it works great. However, I'm having trouble searching a RANGE of cells using the same logic.

See below for the logic that works when searching 1 cell for specific data:

=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("AA",B2)),"OK","")

Now, when I change my search criteria from B2 to a range, say B2:B40, I get no results:

=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("AA",B2:B40)),"OK","")

Do I need to search through a range of cells differently so that I get the correct result to show? Any help would be great!

 

[xlhelp]

Don't understand your formula whatsoever.

Anyway, for the second formula to work, you would need to press CTRL/SHIFT/ENTER after typing the formula.

You say the formula works. In my opinion it should never work; but, I have been wrong before.

A man has only two choices: He can be right or he can be happy.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

You can use wildcards within CountIf.

[tab][COLOR=blue white]=if(countif(B2:B40, "*AA*")>0, "OK", "")[/color]

[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.