How to lookup a string within a column of substrings

Here is a solution based on a short UDF().

Say the lookup table is in columns F and G from row 1 up to a maximum of 100 rows. First insert this UDF() in a standard module:

Public Function GetType(sIN As String) As String
   Dim LookupTable As Range, nItems As Long
   Set LookupTable = Range("F1:G100")
   nItems = 100

   For i = 1 To nItems
      If LookupTable(i, 1) = "" Then Exit For
      If InStr(1, sIN, LookupTable(i, 1)) > 0 Then
         GetType = LookupTable(i, 2)
         Exit Function
      End If
   Next i
   GetType = "UN-FOUND"
End Function

Then in cell C1, enter:

=GetType(A1)

and copy down:

User Defined Functions (UDFs) are very easy to install and use:

1. ALT-F11 brings up the VBE window
2. ALT-I ALT-M opens a fresh module
3. paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the UDF will be saved with it. If you are using a version of Excel later then 2003, you must save the file as .xlsm rather than .xlsx

To remove the UDF:

1. bring up the VBE window as above
2. clear the code out
3. close the VBE window

To use the UDF from Excel:

=myfunction(A1)

To learn more about macros in general, see:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735(v=office.14).aspx

and for specifics on UDFs, see:

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/WritingFunctionsInVBA.aspx

Macros must be enabled for this to work!