Finding Duplicates in Excel

Here's an easy way to find duplicate entries in excel using excel's OR function. This method is pretty much obsolete in Excel 2007 and above since it has a built-in duplicate finder/eraser, but for earlier versions, such as Excel 2003, this is still a useful trick.

Let's say you have a list of customer numbers and names and need to find duplicated entries. This sample list is unrealistically short, so imagine a list like this with hundreds of entries.

Using excel's OR function, we can check to see if the entry above or below a particular row contains the same number. To facilitate the calculation, create a new column in front of the data you wish to check.

Then enter the calculation into cell A2: =OR(B2=B1, B2=B3)

The logic behind this calculation will return a TRUE response if EITHER of the conditions are met. It looks to see if either the cell above (B1) or below (B3) cell B2 is a duplicate. Copy this formula down.

Remember that in order for this formula to work, the list of customer numbers will need to be sorted first, so that duplicate entries show up adjacent to each other. You can apply an auto-filter or just data/sort the list.

In this case, sort by customer number.

After the list is sorted, column A will show TRUE for the entries which are duplicated. To group the TRUE entries and find them more easily, you can further sort the list by column A, or apply an auto-filter to the sheet, or you can apply conditional formatting to column A to highlight TRUE entries in color.

Things to Do in Las Vegas, A Guide with Pictures

A series of posts about possible things to do - other than gambling or partaking in the nightlife - in Las Vegas. With pictures.


My brother accrued enough comp points to room and feed me at a hotel (Bally's, on the Strip, no less!) so I decided to fly out to Vegas to sightsee and to see the family. The comp didn't cover airfare, so I booked a ticket with JetBlue thru Expedia; I got the ticket less than a week in advance, so it was a little pricey, but the hotel room was only reservable for a particular week, so there wasn't much I could do. It was a direct flight and every seat had a TV so I guess I can't complain. Well, the flight attendants did talk pretty loudly while everyone tried to sleep, and they were red-eye flights, but eh.


The Fountains at Bellagio

Bally's was nice enough. My room had a queen size bed, a little wet-bar, a sitting area, and of course, a bathroom. The one thing it was missing was a wireless internet connection - there were plenty of wifi signals bouncing around, but all of them required payment. I asked about the business center, but I scoffed at the price of $5 for 5 minutes of internet usage. Since I needed directions to the various sights I had hoped to see, I gave up and paid $12.95 for the wired, in-room, internet connection for 24 hours.

Vegas in Three Days - Links

1. Las Vegas - Day One: Lake Mead and Hoover Dam
2. Las Vegas - Day Two: Glass Skywalk at Grand Canyon West
3. Las Vegas - Day Three: Red Rock Canyon

• Flickr Album - Las Vegas Shenanigans

Besides the above attractions, there were lots of things to do and see in the city itself. It was interesting enough to walk through the various themed casinos (to try my hand at the tables!), and along the streets to see the various casino frontages. I thought the hot, dry air was refreshing, but make sure to bring/buy lotion and eye drops!


The Fremont Street Experience. As opposed to The Strip, Downtown is pretty kitschy, and the casinos kinda dark and depressing, but might as well go for the experience eh?

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