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selecting data in Excel worksheet

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by tukurk

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I have two columns of data in Excel.They share some common data.My problem is to isolate the common data from each column so that I will have all unique data in each column. There is a probability that some items can be duplicated in either of thecolumns.I will need that duplication to come out. How do I do it? My list is so long that sorting will not do.

5 replies

by raffi_

There very well may be a way to do that in Excel but this is what I would do 'cause I'm a DB guy (and I'm lazy so I like to find easy ways to do things)

If you don't care WHICH columns has the unique value then this will work.

Export the wholething to a simple Access table. The table would have two columns - one named Column1 and the other named MyUniqueData. Then you can 'key' MyUniqueData and the conflicting values will be thrown out into a seperate table. You can keep the rejects table or not as you like.

If you need to have column1 with the unique values then import that data into Access first. Then import the second column into the same table. The non-unique values from the second table will be discarded.

Sounds more complicated than it really is.

Regards
Raffi_

by mark t

Select the first column and use the Advanced filter in Excel (Data | Filter | Advanced Filter).

Select ?Unique Records Only? and you can select ?Copy to another Location? if you wish to keep the original data intact.

You will end up with a list of only the unique item in that column.

Repeat the process for the second column.

Cut and past one set of results to the bottom of the other and repeat the process again.

You should now have one set of unique results.

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