Hi
for the first part of your question use a macro like the following:
Sub add_checkout()
Dim RowNdx As Long
Dim LastRow As Long
application.screenupdating=false
LastRow = ActiveSheet.Cells(Rows.Count, "B").End(xlUp).row
For RowNdx = 3 to LastRow
If Cells(RowNdx, "A").value="" then
Cells(RowNdx, "A").value = Cells(RowNdx,
"A").offset(-1,0).value
End If
Next RowNdx
application.screenupdating=True
End Sub


for the second part use a macro like the following to remove duplicates
(uses column D as helper column):
Public Sub DeleteDuplicateRows()
Dim RowNdx As Long
Dim LastRow As Long
Dim V

Application.ScreenUpdating = False
With ActiveSheet
LastRow = .Cells(Rows.Count, "B").End(xlUp).Row
.Range("D2:D" & LastRow).FormulaR1C1 = "R[0]C1 & " ^ " & R[0]C2"

For RowIndex = LastRow To 2 Step -1
V = .Cells(RowIndex, "D").Value
If Application.WorksheetFunction.CountIf(.Columns(4), V) 1 Then
.Rows(r).EntireRow.Delete
End If
Next RowIndex
.Columns(4).ClearContents
End With

Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub


--
Regards
Frank Kabel
Frankfurt, Germany


Rob Edgeler wrote:
Hello. I'm trying to create a function in Excel that will populate
empty cells with a value. I have a file, which is imported from
another system that contains the details of operators that have
signed on to a specific checkout in the retail store in which I work,
this file is in Excel format.

The imported list contains about 13000 rows, each one containing the
name of the operator that signed on. It looks like this:

Checkout Number Operator Number Operator Name

1 123
A Cashier
124
B Cashier
125
C Cashier
126
D Cashier
2 127
E Cashier
128
F Cashier
129
G Cashier
3 130
H Cashier

etc etc.

As you can see, the imported data does not contain the checkout
number in every row which I would like it to do. Each week, when I
run a new report for the previous week, the number of rows for each
checkout is different, dependant on who's signed on that week. Could
anybody help with providing a formula that I can run in a macro that
will populate the checkout number for me that doesn't require me to
specify the range myself of where checkout 1 ends and checkout 2
starts? With my limited knowledge of macros, I'm finding this really
hard. I feel sure I need to use a loop, but there are several sorts,
and I don't know which sort to use or how to go about it.

To further complicate the issue, the system that I import the data
from shows the same cashier against the same checkout a number of
times, as it captures *each* sign-on rather than just consolidating
all the sign-ons to one cashier. For instance, B Cashier could sign
on to checkout 2 18 times during the week, and this is what is making
the number of rows so huge. I would also like to be able to run a
macro to remove the duplicates in the operator name field on each
checkout, so that in effect even though B Cashier has signed on to
checkout 1 a lot of times, it still shows that they have signed onto
checkout 2 a number of times also.

I realise that this sort of thing maybe better controlled in Access,
but we do not have Access installed at work and we will not be
getting it either. I work for a national company and all their PC's
are built to the same specification and have the same functions
installed on them. There is also no hope of changing the system
where the imported data originates as again, this is a vanilla system
and cannot be modified.

I really hope that someone can help...I know its possible, but just
can't even begin to think how to do it effectively!

Kind Regards

Rob.