Need to eliminate duplicates and originals

**geffsta** · 07-30-2012, 11:09 PM

I have a database of people consisting of 7 columns. Column 1 contains email addresses. I have sorted Column 1 alphabetically. If I have duplicate entries for a person I need to eliminate both entries. Most suggestions and formulas or advanced filters I have read about eliminate one but keep the other. Is there a formula that selects both and makes it easy to delete them both?

geffsta

**benishiryo** · 07-30-2012, 11:18 PM

hi geffsta, welcome to the forum. you can use COUNTIF & Autofilter to help you. assuming your column A determines the duplicates, & your data is from A1:A10, do a formula somewhere like this:
=COUNTIF($A$1:$A$10,A1)

that will count how many times A1 appeared in that ranged A1:A10. filter those more than 1 & those will be the ones to delete

**geffsta** · 07-30-2012, 11:28 PM

benishiryo: Thanks for your response. My list actually goes from A2 to A228. The duplicates are mixed into the entire list but those that are duplicates actually appear one after another within that list. When I tried the formula you suggested plugging in $A$2:$A$228,A2 I simply got a column of the number 6. All entries had a 6, not just the ones that were duplicates, except for the box where I entered the formula. That box had a 1 in it. Did I make a mistake?

**benishiryo** · 07-30-2012, 11:44 PM

seems like the formula is right. so it's this, right?
=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$228,A2)

maybe the auto calculation is turned off? you can press F9 to recalculate or go to Formulas -> Calculation Options -> Automatic
otherwise, do upload a sample for us to have a look

**geffsta** · 07-30-2012, 11:51 PM

test of athletic directors.xlsx

It looks like auto calculate is on. Here is the file. I hope I attached it correctly.

**benishiryo** · 07-31-2012, 12:05 AM

oh you need to copy the formulas all the way down to row 228. do an Autofilter by going to Data -> Filter. then use the dropdown in E1 & select those that is not equals to 1 or you can also choose >1

i dont get how you got 6 though. it isnt a formula, just keyed as 6

**geffsta** · 07-31-2012, 12:10 AM

Don't know how I got a 6 either but your last suggestions worked perfectly. Thank you so much for your help. I truly appreciate you taking the time and sharing your expertise.

**Cutter** · 07-31-2012, 09:32 AM

@ geffsta

Based on your last post it seems that you are satisfied with the solution(s) you've received but you haven't marked your thread as SOLVED. I'll do that for you now but please keep in mind for your future threads that Rule #9 requires you to do that yourself. If your problem has not been solved you can use Thread Tools (located above your first post) and choose "Mark this thread as unsolved".
Thanks.

Also, as a new member of the forum, you may not be aware that you can thank those who have helped you by clicking the small star icon located in the lower left corner of the post in which the help was given. By doing so you can add to the reputation(s) of those who helped.

**geffsta** · 07-31-2012, 09:37 AM

Cutter:

Thank you for the information. I went back and clicked the star icon to add to benishiryo's reputation. I will remember to mark the thread as solved in the future.