Filter unique values from a cell range
Unique values are values occurring only once in cell range. This is what I am going to demonstrate in this blog post using an array formula.
If you are looking for filtering unique distinct values sorted from A to Z, see this blog post: Extract a unique distinct list sorted from A-Z from range in excel
Array formula in cell B8:
To enter an array formula, type the formula in a cell then press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously, now press Enter once. Release all keys.
The formula bar now shows the formula with a beginning and ending curly bracket telling you that you entered the formula successfully. Don't enter the curly brackets yourself.
Explaining formula in cell B8
Step 1 - Identify unique values
The COUNTIF function counts values based on a condition or criteria, if number is 1 then value must be unique.
COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1
becomes
COUNTIF({"Banana", "Orange", "Pineapple", "Lemon";"Grapefruit", "Watermelon", "Apple", "Orange";"Pear", "Blueberry", "Grapefruit", "Blackberry";"Pineapple", "Blueberry", "Cranberry", "Banana"}, {"Banana", "Orange", "Pineapple", "Lemon";"Grapefruit", "Watermelon", "Apple", "Orange";"Pear", "Blueberry", "Grapefruit", "Blackberry";"Pineapple", "Blueberry", "Cranberry", "Banana"})=1
becomes
{2,2,2,1;2,1,1,2;1,2,2,1;2,2,1,2}=1
and returns
{FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}.
Step 2 - Keep track of previous values
The first argument in the COUNTIF function contains an expanding cell reference, it grows when the cell is copied to cells below. This makes the formula aware of values displayed in cells above.
COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5)
becomes
COUNTIF("Unique values", {"Banana", "Orange", "Pineapple", "Lemon";"Grapefruit", "Watermelon", "Apple", "Orange";"Pear", "Blueberry", "Grapefruit", "Blackberry";"Pineapple", "Blueberry", "Cranberry", "Banana"})
and returns
{0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0}.
Step 3 - Add arrays
First we add the arrays and then we check if a number is equal to 1. We then know that the value has not been shown and that it must be unique.
(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1)+COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5))=1
becomes
({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}+{0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0;0,0,0,0})=1
becomes
{0,0,0,1;0,1,1,0;1,0,0,1;0,0,1,0}=1
and returns
{FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}.
Step 4 - Replace TRUE with unique number
The IF function returns unique number if boolean value is TRUE. FALSE returns "" (nothing).
IF(((COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1)+COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5))=1, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, "")
becomes
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, "")
This part of the formula: (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1 creates a unique value for each cell in cell range. This makes it easier to extract the correct value in a later step.
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, "")
becomes
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE;TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE}, {2.33333333333333, 2.25, 2.2, 2.16666666666667;3.33333333333333, 3.25, 3.2, 3.16666666666667;4.33333333333333, 4.25, 4.2, 4.16666666666667;5.33333333333333, 5.25, 5.2, 5.16666666666667}, "")
and returns
{"","","",2.16666666666667;"",3.25,3.2,"";4.33333333333333,"","",4.16666666666667;"","",5.2,""}
Step 5 - Find smallest value in array
The MIN function returns the smallest number in array ignoring blanks and text values.
MIN(IF(((COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1)+COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5))=1, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, ""))
becomes
MIN({"","","",2.16666666666667;"",3.25,3.2,"";4.33333333333333,"","",4.16666666666667;"","",5.2,""})
and returns 2.16666666666667.
Step 4 - Find corresponding value
IF(MIN(IF(((COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1)+COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5))=1, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, ""))=(ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, $B$2:$E$5, "")
becomes
IF(2.16666666666667=(ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, $B$2:$E$5, "")
becomes
IF(2.16666666666667={2.33333333333333, 2.25, 2.2, 2.16666666666667;3.33333333333333, 3.25, 3.2, 3.16666666666667;4.33333333333333, 4.25, 4.2, 4.16666666666667;5.33333333333333, 5.25, 5.2, 5.16666666666667}, $B$2:$E$5, "")
becomes
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE}, $B$2:$E$5, "")
and returns
{"","","","Lemon";"","","","";"","","","";"","","",""}.
Step 5 - Concatenate strings in array
The TEXTJOIN function returns values concatenated ignoring blanks in array.
TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, IF(MIN(IF(((COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, $B$2:$E$5)=1)+COUNTIF(B7:$B$7, $B$2:$E$5))=1, (ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, ""))=(ROW($B$2:$E$5)+(1/(COLUMN($B$2:$E$5)+1)))*1, $B$2:$E$5, ""))
becomes
TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, {"","","","Lemon";"","","","";"","","","";"","","",""})
and returns "Lemon" in cell B8.
Filter unique values from a range (for older Excel versions)
Array formula in B10:
copied down as far as necessary.
Named ranges
tbl (B4:E7)
What is named ranges?
How to implement array formula to your workbook
Change the named range. If your list starts at, for example, F3. Change $B$9:B9 in the above formulas to F2:$F$2.
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4 Responses to “Filter unique values from a cell range”
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This formula breaks if you change the size of the "tbl" range to only one or two columns of the same data in the "tbl" range.
How is this fixed so that I could use a range of any size in place of the "tbl" range?
tyler,
the formula works if you use two or more columns. I tried with two columns and it worked.
Use this formula if you are working with one column:
How to extract unique values from a column
Remember, the formulas above filter unique values. If you are looking for unique distinct values, see this post:
Extract a unique distinct list sorted from A-Z from range
I tried your formula, it came up with (") in the cell.
What could I have done wrong? Here is the formula.
=ArrayFormula(textjoin("",true,if(min(if(((countif($B$5:$EC$16,$B$5:$EC$16)=1)+countif(A36:$A$36,$B$5:$EC$16))=1,(row($B$5:$EC$16)+(1/(column($B$5:$EC$16)+1)))*1,""))=(row($B$5:$EC$16)+(1/(column($B$5:$EC$16)+1)))*1,$B$5:$EC$16,"")))
RANGE : b5:EC16
output header: A36
Regards
Sunny
Sunny Dhillon,
Try this array formula:
=TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, IF(MIN(IF(((COUNTIF($B$5:$EC$16, $B$5:$EC$16)=1)+COUNTIF(A36:$A$36, $B$5:$EC$16))=1, (ROW($B$5:$EC$16)+(1/(COLUMN($B$5:$EC$16)+1)))*1, ""))=(ROW($B$5:$EC$16)+(1/(COLUMN($B$5:$EC$16)+1)))*1, $B$5:$EC$16, ""))