Formula to assign a number to each entry

[route62us]

In the attached spreadsheet there are 4 entries. One is for Jody Rogers and three are for Asad Bangash. Can a formula be created that will assign a number to each persons last name? The number would have to be the same when the same name is repeated. The numbers assigned can start at 1.

This would have to be a formula that can be copied and pasted into the entire first row as this spreadsheet will have hundreds of entries.

Thank you.

[Pete_UK]

You can use this formula in cell A2:

=IF(B2="","-",IF(COUNTIF(B$2:B2,B2)=1,MAX(A$1:A1)+1,INDEX(A:A,MATCH(B2,B:B,0))))

then copy it down as far as you want to - the hyphens will show where the formula is active.

Hope this helps.

Pete

[route62us]

Thank you so much Pete.

[Pete_UK]

You're welcome - glad to help.

If that takes care of your original question, please take a moment to select Thread Tools from the menu above and to the right of your first post in this thread, and mark the thread as SOLVED.

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Pete