The first field of file1 is my "search string" that I'm looking for in file2.

I don't understand. Is there only one record in file1, and only its first field must be compared against every record in file2? Must the first field of every record in file1 be compared against every record of file2? Etc, etc. (And please be sure to include expected output with the Short, Self-Contained, Correct Example that stevieb suggested.) Please help us to help you.