Removing copies of the same row

[kampho]

I have a large spreadsheet that has a lot of double-up data (multiple rows with exactly the same data). I will be using the spreadsheet to create an ASCII file and then a cad file and any double-up data will also carry through to the CAD file. I am looking for a command in EXCEL that will automatically search through the spreadsheet and remove any occasions where rows with the same data are repeated.

Any ideas?

 

[pmover]

writing vba code would be cumbersome and maybe risky as some data may be removed that is needed.

perhaps you can try using the autofilter criteria (menu commands: Data-> Auto Filter). be certain to select the continuous columns in which to filter the criteria before activating the auto filter capabilities.
you can then delete duplicated rows.

this technique maybe time-consuming as well.
again, i'm handicaped as this pc does not have excel on it, so testing the theory is impractical.

how about the subtotal capabilities?

question for you, why is the data in excel duplicated in the first place? take care of the source and simplify the use of excel - a suggestion.
regardless, good luck!
-pmover

 

[melone]

Why not use a Pivot table....

 

[kampho]

Thanks guys

The way i actually solved the problem was to write an if statement. The statement simply printed "DUPLICATE" if two concurrent rows were the same or "OK" if they were different. I then sorted by the column that had the "DUPLICATE" and "OK" text and deleted all of the "DUPLICATE" rows. It worked very quickly and very effectively. I had thought that there would have been some form of magic excel command that would have deleted duplicate data but it appears not.

 

[chrisbullough]

Another method you might consider in future is to use the Advanced Filter (Data > Filter > Advanced Filter). By selecting the options "Copy into a new location" and "Unique records only", you can extract only the unique rows from your original data.