comparing columns

[dfeld71]

Hi guys! I am hoping someone has an answer for this, as I am stuck. I have a spreadsheet with two columns. Each column contains a bunch of codes. I need to be able to identify any code that appears in one column, but not the other (doesn't matter which one).

So, if the code appears in column A but not B, I need to know about it.
If the code appears in column B but not A, I need to know about it.

I know this can be done with a formula, but I am not sure what it is! PLease help! Thanks.

[Dave Peterson]

Put your data is in column A and C.

Then put this in B1 and drag down:

=if(isnumber(match(a1,C:C,0)),"Found in column C","Missing from column C")
And drag down to match the number of rows in A.

And in D1, put this formula:
=IF(ISNUMBER(MATCH(c1,a:a,0)),"Found in column A","Missing from column A")

And drag down to match the number of rows in column C.

You could even add headers and then select A:D and do Data|Filter|Autofilter.

And filter to see the ones you want.

========
You may want to read Chip Pearson's treatise on Duplicates:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm

He has lots of hints/techniques you might be able to use.

dfeld71 wrote:
>
> Hi guys! I am hoping someone has an answer for this, as I am stuck. I
> have a spreadsheet with two columns. Each column contains a bunch of
> codes. I need to be able to identify any code that appears in one
> column, but not the other (doesn't matter which one).
>
> So, if the code appears in column A but not B, I need to know about
> it.
> If the code appears in column B but not A, I need to know about it.
>
> I know this can be done with a formula, but I am not sure what it is!
> PLease help! Thanks.
>
> --
> dfeld71
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> dfeld71's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=21452
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=386934

--

Dave Peterson

[Peter Rooney]

Hi,

Doing it with VBA, you could adpat my code as necessary:

Option Explicit

Sub ListCompare()
Dim CompSheet As Worksheet

Dim List1 As Range 'range of cells containing your first list eg B3:B32
Dim List1Header As Range 'label at the top of list 1 e.g. B2
Dim List1Item As Range

Dim List2 As Range 'range of cells containing your second list e.g.D3:D32
Dim List2Header As Range 'label at the top of list 1 e.g. D2
Dim List2Item As Range

Dim List1OnlyHeader As Range 'label above where you want items in first
list only to appear e.g. F2
Dim List2OnlyHeader As Range 'label above where you want items in second
list only to appear e.g. H2
Dim ListBothHeader As Range 'label above where you want items in BOTH
listsonly to appear e.g. J2

Dim Flag As Boolean

'In my example, List1 is B3:B32 and List2 is D3:D32, although the code
works out
'how long the lists are and allocates the names List1 and List2 to the
cells containing them.

'Make sure that there is a blank column to the left of List1Header, and
blank
'columns between List1OnlyHeader and List2OnlyHeader, and between
List2OnlyHeader and ListBothHeader.

'Finally, make sure there is a blank column to the right of
ListBothHeader.
'This ensures that all the "CurrentRegion" referenece work correctly.
'In my example, List1OnlyHeader is a label in F2, List2Header is a label
in H2 and
'ListBothHeader is a label in J2. Columns A, D, E, G, I and K must NOT
contain any entries.
'The worksheet is called "Compare Lists"

Set CompSheet = Worksheets("Compare Lists")

Set List1Header = CompSheet.Range("List1Header")
Set List1OnlyHeader = CompSheet.Range("List1OnlyHeader")
Set List2Header = CompSheet.Range("List2Header")
Set List2OnlyHeader = CompSheet.Range("List2OnlyHeader")
Set ListBothHeader = CompSheet.Range("ListBothHeader")

If List1Header.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count = 1 Then
MsgBox ("You don't have any entries in List 1!")
Exit Sub
End If

If List2Header.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count = 1 Then
MsgBox ("You don't have any entries in List 2!")
Exit Sub
End If

List1Header.Offset(1, 0).Resize(List1Header.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count -
1, 1).Name = "List1"
List2Header.Offset(1, 0).Resize(List2Header.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count -
1, 1).Name = "List2"

Set List1 = CompSheet.Range("List1")
Set List2 = CompSheet.Range("List2")

'Clear List1 only entries produced when macro last run
If List1OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count > 1 Then
List1OnlyHeader.Offset(1,
0).Resize(List1OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count - 1).ClearContents
End If
'Clear List2 only entries produced when macro last run
If List2OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count > 1 Then
List2OnlyHeader.Offset(1,
0).Resize(List2OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count - 1).ClearContents
End If
'Clear ListBoth entries produced when macro last run
If ListBothHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count > 1 Then
ListBothHeader.Offset(1,
0).Resize(ListBothHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count - 1).ClearContents
End If

'Check which items are only in list 1 and not in List 2
For Each List1Item In List1
Flag = False
For Each List2Item In List2
If List2Item.Value = List1Item.Value Then
Flag = True
End If
Next
If Flag = False Then
'MsgBox (List1Item.Value & " is only in List 1!")
List1OnlyHeader.Offset(List1OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count,
0).Value = List1Item.Value
Else
'MsgBox (List1Item.Value & " is in both Lists!")
ListBothHeader.Offset(ListBothHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count,
0).Value = List1Item.Value
End If
Next

'Check which items are only in list 2 and not in List 1
For Each List2Item In List2
Flag = False
For Each List1Item In List1
If List1Item.Value = List2Item.Value Then
Flag = True
End If
Next
If Flag = False Then
'MsgBox (List2Item.Value & " is only in List 2!")
List2OnlyHeader.Offset(List2OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count,
0).Value = List2Item.Value
Else 'Included only for completeness - you already worked out which
items
'were in both lists in the previous loop!
'MsgBox (List2Item.Value & " is in both Lists!")
'ListBothHeader.Offset(ListBothHeader.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count,
0).Value = List2Item.Value
End If
Next

'Sort List1Only list
List1OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Sort Key1:=Range("List1OnlyHeader"), _
Order1:=xlAscending, Header:=xlGuess, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, _
Orientation:=xlTopToBottom

'Sort List2Only list
List2OnlyHeader.CurrentRegion.Sort Key1:=Range("List2OnlyHeader"), _
Order1:=xlAscending, Header:=xlGuess, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, _
Orientation:=xlTopToBottom

'Sort ListBoth list
ListBothHeader.CurrentRegion.Sort Key1:=Range("ListBothHeader"), _
Order1:=xlAscending, Header:=xlGuess, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, _
Orientation:=xlTopToBottom

End Sub

Hope this helps!

Pete


"dfeld71" wrote:

>
> Hi guys! I am hoping someone has an answer for this, as I am stuck. I
> have a spreadsheet with two columns. Each column contains a bunch of
> codes. I need to be able to identify any code that appears in one
> column, but not the other (doesn't matter which one).
>
> So, if the code appears in column A but not B, I need to know about
> it.
> If the code appears in column B but not A, I need to know about it.
>
> I know this can be done with a formula, but I am not sure what it is!
> PLease help! Thanks.
>
>
> --
> dfeld71
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> dfeld71's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=21452
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=386934
>
>