Try this revised set-up ..

Data is in cols A & B, from row1 down:

Put in C1: =LEFT(A1,1)&B1

Put in D1:

=IF(OR(A1="",B1=""),"",TRIM(LEFT(A1,1)&B1&IF(COUNT IF($C$1:C1,C1)-1=0,"",COUN
TIF($C$1:C1,C1)-1)))

Select C1:D1, fill down

Col D should now yield the results you want
--
Rgds
Max
xl 97
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Singapore, GMT+8
xdemechanik
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
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"CCloud" wrote in message
...

Max,
I thought I had it with this... but my data is producing this...
Cherry Cloud CCloud
Christopher Cloud CCloud1
Chad Cloud CCloud2
Mark Smith MSmith
Michael Smith MSmith1
john roberts jroberts
Vila smith Vsmith2

Notice vila smith has a 2 and he is the first vsmith.
Did I do something wrong?