Starhawk Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Is there a simple way to find duplicate entries in an Excel spreadsheet? For example, say you have a list of names and you wanted to verify that no exact name was listed twice. Is there a way to do just that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 The easiest way would be to sort by the list by names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain rising Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 I don't think there is an easy way to do that. My best suggestion - other than using Microsoft Access - would be to sort them and then use a formula (that would have to be pasted in ever single row) to determine if there are duplicates, or to use some VBA to check it for you. If you go the formula route I've got an idea for how it should be structured that I think would work. [EDIT] This formula would work (if your list is sorted), and changing the cell references of course: =IF(A1=A2,TRUE,IF(A2=A3,TRUE,"")) If there's any duplicates, it will say "TRUE" next to the repeats, otherwise, it'll be blank. [/EDIT] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcalx Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 A quicker way would be to use the following formula: =COUNTIF(A:A,A1) This assumes that the values you are checking for duplicates reside in column A and that your first value is in cell A1. Change references as applicable to fit your sheet and copy all the way down the column to match your list. This method does not require you to sort the list first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain rising Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Originally posted by blackcalx@Jun 1 2004, 04:51 PM A quicker way would be to use the following formula: =COUNTIF(A:A,A1) This assumes that the values you are checking for duplicates reside in column A and that your first value is in cell A1. Change references as applicable to fit your sheet and copy all the way down the column to match your list. This method does not require you to sort the list first. Cool - I wasn't the one asking the question but I'll have to remember that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starhawk Posted June 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Awesome. Thanks Blackcalx and Kain. That Countif formula will work fine. I wanted something where I wouldnt have to sort and then scroll through to manually find duplicates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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