This article demonstrates formulas that list unique distinct values if they contain a specified substring.

1. Extract unique distinct values if the value contains a given string - Excel 365

The following formula lists unique distinct values from cell range B3:B21 if they contain the substring specified in cell D3.

Unique distinct values are all values except duplicates, they are merged into one distinct value.

Excel 365 formula in cell F3:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Search for a substring in the array

The SEARCH function returns the number of the character at which a specific character or text string is found reading left to right (not case-sensitive)

Function syntax: SEARCH(find_text,within_text, [start_num])

SEARCH(D3, B3:B21)

becomes

SEARCH("r",{"Federer, Roger "; "Djokovic, Novak "; "Murray, Andy "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Blake, James "; "Nalbandian, David "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "})

and returns

{5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6}.

Step 2 - Check if the value is a number

The ISNUMBER function checks if a value is a number, returns TRUE or FALSE.

Function syntax: ISNUMBER(value)

ISNUMBER(SEARCH(S20,R20:R22))

becomes

ISNUMBER({5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6})

and returns

{TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE}.

Step 3 - Filter values if the value in the array is a number

The FILTER function extracts values/rows based on a condition or criteria.

Function syntax: FILTER(array, include, [if_empty])

FILTER(B3:B21,ISNUMBER(SEARCH(S20,R20:R22)))

becomes

FILTER({"Federer, Roger "; "Djokovic, Novak "; "Murray, Andy "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Blake, James "; "Nalbandian, David "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "},{TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE})

and returns

{"Federer, Roger "; "Murray, Andy "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "}.

Step 3 - List unique distinct values

The UNIQUE function returns a unique or unique distinct list.

Function syntax: UNIQUE(array,[by_col],[exactly_once])

UNIQUE(FILTER(B3:B21,ISNUMBER(SEARCH(D3,B3:B21))))

becomes

UNIQUE({"Federer, Roger "; "Murray, Andy "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "})

and returns

{"Federer, Roger "; "Murray, Andy "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "}

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2. Extract unique distinct values if the value contains a string in earlier Excel versions

The image above demonstrates a formula in cell F3 that extracts unique distinct values from column B if they contain the value in cell D3.

Formula in cell F3:

Explaining formula in cell F3

Step 1 - Prevent duplicates

The COUNTIF function counts cells in cell range based on a condition or criteria. If the value is equal to 0 then it has not been displayed yet.

COUNTIF($F$2:F2, $B$3:$B$21)=0

becomes

COUNTIF("Search results "contain" search value
Unique distinct list", {"Federer, Roger "; "Djokovic, Novak "; "Murray, Andy "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Blake, James "; "Nalbandian, David "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "})=0

becomes

{0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0}=0

and returns

{TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE}

Step 2 - Check if values contain string

The SEARCH function returns a number that represents the position of the search string if found. The function returns an error if not found which is alright in this case.

SEARCH($D$3,$B$3:$B$21)

becomes

SEARCH("r",$B$3:$B$21)

and returns

{5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6}.

Step 3 - Multiply arrays

Both values must be TRUE in order to be TRUE meaning if the value has not been displayed yet AND the value contains the string then return TRUE or the equivalent numerical number. TRUE is all numbers except 0 (zero), FALSE is 0 (zero).

{TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE}* {5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6}

and returns

{5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6}.

Step 4 - Divide 1 with array

The result will return !DIV/0 error if 1 is divided with 0 (0), which the LOOKUP function ignores. It will also ignore #VALUE! errors.

1/((COUNTIF($F$2:F2, $B$3:$B$21)=0)*SEARCH($D$3, $B$3:$B$21))

becomes

1/{5; #VALUE!; 3; #VALUE!; 1; 8; 5; #VALUE!; 3; 13; 4; 13; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 4; 10; 11; 6}

and returns

{0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; #VALUE!; 1; 0.125; 0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; 0.0769230769230769; 0.25; 0.0769230769230769; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 0.25; 0.1; 0.0909090909090909; 0.166666666666667}.

Step 5 - Return value

LOOKUP(2,1/((COUNTIF($F$2:F2,$B$3:$B$21)=0)*SEARCH($D$3,$B$3:$B$21)),$B$3:$B$21)

becomes

LOOKUP(2,{0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; #VALUE!; 1; 0.125; 0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; 0.0769230769230769; 0.25; 0.0769230769230769; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 0.25; 0.1; 0.0909090909090909; 0.166666666666667},$B$3:$B$21)

becomes

LOOKUP(2,{0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; #VALUE!; 1; 0.125; 0.2; #VALUE!; 0.333333333333333; 0.0769230769230769; 0.25; 0.0769230769230769; #VALUE!; #VALUE!; 1; 0.25; 0.1; 0.0909090909090909; 0.166666666666667}, {"Federer, Roger "; "Djokovic, Novak "; "Murray, Andy "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Roddick, Andy "; "Del Potro, Juan Martin "; "Federer, Roger "; "Davydenko, Nikolay "; "Verdasco, Fernando "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Gonzalez, Fernando "; "Blake, James "; "Nalbandian, David "; "Robredo, Tommy "; "Wawrinka, Stanislas "; "Cilic, Marin "; "Stepanek, Radek "; "Almagro, Nicolas "})

and returns

"Almagro, Nicolas " in cell F3.

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Get Excel *.xlsx file

Filter unique distinct values containing string.xlsx

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