Duplicates in Excel 2007
Have a lot of Excel data with a possibility of unwanted duplicates?
Looking for a quick way to locate the duplicates? (Maybe a way that doesn't involve sorting the data differently - after all sometimes we just need the information ordered the way it is. Or the worse yet, the scenario where you spend endless time searching through each one hoping to catch all of them.)
Are you using Excel 2007?
If you answered yes all three times then you're in luck because Excel 2007 has just what you need located in its Conditional Formatting choices.
With just a few clicks we can have Excel highlight any duplicated values so that you can decide which one(s) are unwanted and remove them.
To start the process, highlight the data to be checked.
Next we're looking for the Conditional Formatting button located on the Home tab of the Ribbon.
When you click the Conditional Formatting button you'll be presented with a list of choices. We need the Highlight Cells Rules.
From the bottom of the list we need to choose Duplicate Values.
The Duplicate Values dialog box will open giving you a few choices.
On the left choose what should be highlighted - duplicate values or unique values.
On the right side use the drop down list to choose how the cells will be formatted. If you don't like the preset options then choose Custom from the bottom of the list. You'll be presented with the usual Format Cells dialog box so I'm sure you'll feel right at home setting your preferred style.
When everything is set click OK.
Voila! No more searching for values - it doesn't get any easier to see them than that.
~ April
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Suggestions from our readers!
Note: Reader suggestions may not have been tested by the Worldstart staff. Use at your own discretion
- #1 : excel duplicatesClick to expand / collapse
- If you don't have Excel 2007 you can still locate duplicates by using conditional formatting. Assuming the data to be checked is in column A, Highlight the complete column by clicking on the A at the top of the column. From the format menu choose conditional formatting and then in the small window that opens change the drop down list from 'Cell Value is' to 'Formula is' and then enter the following formula '=COUNTIF(A:A,A1)>1' (omit the single quotes) and click the Format buuton to choose the type of formatting to highlight the duplicates (I use pattern and select a colour that's not too bright so as not to obscure the cell data). Thats all - all duplicates will now be highlighted from cell A1 down to the last cell containing data in column A. Written By: Bob
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