I am checking through a document register. The register relies on the fact
that every document has a unique referance number but i have come across a
few duplicates. How do i check the rather large register for other duplicates
without doing it manually, and without having a specific referance number to
begin with.

thanks

You need a new column and assuming that the reference numbers are in column A

try in column b

b2:=if(countif(a:a, a2)1,countif(a:a, a2),"")
and then copy it down

that will highlight duplicates and then you can do an auto filter on it to
get them
--
Hope this helps
Martin Fishlock, Bangkok, Thailand
Please do not forget to rate this reply.


"charlie777" wrote:

I am checking through a document register. The register relies on the fact
that every document has a unique referance number but i have come across a
few duplicates. How do i check the rather large register for other duplicates
without doing it manually, and without having a specific referance number to
begin with.

thanks

Hi Charlie

An easy visual approach would be to use Conditional Formatting so that
duplicates get highlighted in some easily visible colour (say Red or
Green).

Assuming your document ID numbers/file names are in col A then select
the column and go FormatConditional Formatting.

Change the first drop-down arrow to Formula Is and in the bar
immediately adjacent to this, type the formula:

=COUNTIF(A:A,A1)1

Then click the Format button and go to the Patterns tab and choose your
desired colour.

Click OK, and now you can scan down your list of files, and any
duplicate cells will be highlighted in the colour you chose.

Hope this helps!

Richard

charlie777 wrote:

I am checking through a document register. The register relies on the fact
that every document has a unique referance number but i have come across a
few duplicates. How do i check the rather large register for other duplicates
without doing it manually, and without having a specific referance number to
begin with.

thanks