Checking for duplicates?

E

Eric G

Can someone please tell me any easy formula/macro to use to check for
duplicates (text) in a column of text data?

Thanks! Eric
 
H

Herb Martin

There are probably a million "better" ways but the following
worked for me recently:

Add a sequence column and extend it from 1-# of items
so you can later restore the data to the current order if you
need to do so.

Sort on the desired column(s) for comparison.

Write a conditional formatting rule to show the line in red IF
the value in this field matches the next line -- apply and all your
dups are easy to spot.

Resort is desired; remove the sequence or renumber as desired.

It's stupid but it's quick.
 
H

Herb Martin

Chip Pearson:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm

All you could want for handling duplicate / unique problems.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I like your method better and need an extension:

CountIF (function used in your solution) doesn't have a "case
sensitive" switch. Is that a way to find dups like this with
case considered a difference?

(In case you wonder: My problem is actually in Arabic where
the short vowels and such are like diacritical marks -- Excel
uses "case insensitive" to mean "ignore those marks" which can
make an entirely different word.)

My solution is no better, so far....
 
E

Eric G

Hi Herb,

Looks like a great site. Thanks a lot!

Eric



Thanks, I like your method better and need an extension:

CountIF (function used in your solution) doesn't have a "case
sensitive" switch. Is that a way to find dups like this with
case considered a difference?

(In case you wonder: My problem is actually in Arabic where
the short vowels and such are like diacritical marks -- Excel
uses "case insensitive" to mean "ignore those marks" which can
make an entirely different word.)

My solution is no better, so far....
Click to expand...
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