How to create a unique list using conditional formatting in excel 2007
You may have tried to create a unique distinct list, using conditional formatting with excel 2007, merging duplicates into one distinct value. The problem is that it only highlights all values occurring only once. See picture.
If you highlight all duplicates, excel 2007 highlights all values occurring twice or more. See picture.
But to be able to delete values occuring the second time or more, we need to use another conditional formatting formula. So I thought why not create a conditonal formatting formula that highlights only the cells that needs to be deleted. The end result is a unique (distinct) list. Here is how to do that:
Highlighting duplicate values occuring the second time or more:
- Select the range (C2:C12)
- Click "Home" tab on the ribbon
- Click "Conditional formatting"
- Click "New rule..."
- Click "Use a formula to determine which cells to format"
- Click "Format values where this formual is true" window.
- Type =IF(COUNT(IF($C$2:$C2=$C2, 1, ""))>1, TRUE, FALSE)
- Click OK!
Sorting duplicates to bottom
- Right click on any cell in range C2:C12
- Click "Sort"
- Click "Custom sort..."
- Select "On bottom" in the order column
- Click OK!
Select highlighted values and press "Delete" on keyboard
Download excel example file.
highlight-duplicate-values.xls
(Excel 97-2003 Workbook *.xls)
Functions in this article:
IF(logical_test;[value_if:true];[value_if_false])
Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE
COUNT(value1;[value2])
Counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers
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Excel 2007: Color cells that meet criteria using conditional formatting
Excel vba: Create dynamic conditional formatting
Highlight unique values and unique distinct values in a range using conditional formatting in excel
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Zen Archery
In his book Wonders of Numbers (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 275-276, Clifford Pickover posed a "Zen Archery" problem. In its simplest form, there is a target with 24 numbers on it. The archer must shoot 5 arrows at the target and hit numbers adding up to 200. The 24 numbers on the target are
97,101,139,41,37,31,29,89,23,19,8,13,
131,19,73,97,19,139,79,67,61,17,113,127
Pickover posed a similar problem at Archery by the Numbers. This is really a combinatorial problem -- given the 24 numbers taken 5 at a time, which unique combinations add up to 200?
There is some quick and dirty Java code on the Web, associated with Pickover's book, which solves the Zen archery problem for the 24 numbers given. However, it is not exactly a model of good programming, and it even assumes some foreknowledge of the answer in the code, i.e. the fact that all combinations adding up to 200 include the number 8.
Zen Archery
In his book Wonders of Numbers (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 275-276, Clifford Pickover posed a "Zen Archery" problem. In its simplest form, there is a target with 24 numbers on it. The archer must shoot 5 arrows at the target and hit numbers adding up to 200. The 24 numbers on the target are
97,101,139,41,37,31,29,89,23,19,8,13,
131,19,73,97,19,139,79,67,61,17,113,127
Pickover posed a similar problem at Archery by the Numbers. This is really a combinatorial problem -- given the 24 numbers taken 5 at a time, which unique combinations add up to 200?
There is some quick and dirty Java code on the Web, associated with Pickover's book, which solves the Zen archery problem for the 24 numbers given. However, it is not exactly a model of good programming, and it even assumes some foreknowledge of the answer in the code, i.e. the fact that all combinations adding up to 200 include the number 8. Zen Archery
In his book Wonders of Numbers (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 275-276, Clifford Pickover posed a "Zen Archery" problem. In its simplest form, there is a target with 24 numbers on it. The archer must shoot 5 arrows at the target and hit numbers adding up to 200. The 24 numbers on the target are
97,101,139,41,37,31,29,89,23,19,8,13,
131,19,73,97,19,139,79,67,61,17,113,127
Pickover posed a similar problem at Archery by the Numbers. This is really a combinatorial problem -- given the 24 numbers taken 5 at a time, which unique combinations add up to 200?
There is some quick and dirty Java code on the Web, associated with Pickover's book, which solves the Zen archery problem for the 24 numbers given. However, it is not exactly a model of good programming, and it even assumes some foreknowledge of the answer in the code, i.e. the fact that all combinations adding up to 200 include the number 8. the result is 27 groups of 5 number, the optimal combination how can I do that in excel 2003
or do pivot table on the list it is much faster and easier
Rona,
you are right! Sometimes you just want to examine the values having duplicates and then take the appropriate actions.