Is there a trick to creating a join to a zip code field in ArcMap?

[JohnSutter]

After loading a map based on zip codes USA_Zip_codes, I have attempted to join an external zip code file.   None of the records join.

The map shows the field format as Text length = 10, Read Only = no.    The excel spreadsheet (xlsx 2016) is using a column called Zip_code with a format text.  No records join on these fields no matter what I do.

Any suggestions?    My ultimate goal is to simply create a map of gradient shaded zip codes based on a value range.

Thanks .... I am new to ArcMap

[DanPatterson_Retired]

They have to be exact matches...

If there is text in the values, then the case is different between the two you will have issues.

If one is a number (1234) and the other looks like a number but is text ( "1234" ), then you need to convert the number to text or the text to a number.

Perhaps if you show examples of the values you have in the two it would help

It is also better to convert excel to geodatabase tables before doing a join in any event.  And if you are using shapefiles, produce featureclasses in a geodatabase to boot.