Generate Unique List from Values in Column

users
#1

Hi All,

So I stumbled across instructions on how to do this in Excel but can't get the same result in LibreOffice.

http://www.get-digital-help.com/2009/03/30/how-to-extract-a-unique-list-and-the-duplicates-in-excel-from-one-column/

Suggestions appreciated as always

All the best,
Joel

#2

The first formula given at that web page worked for me once I'd tinkered with the details to fit my actual case. And I needed to replace commas by semicolons. (The formula as given will not find instances of zero in the list.)

Note that it is an array formula, so you need to complete it using Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead of plain Enter. The formula will then show with {braces} around it in the Input Line (but you cannot achieve the same result by typing braces yourself).

Note also that it seems that you cannot fill the array formula down the column by dragging the fill handle. Instead, copy the formula from the original cell, select all the target cells, and paste.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#3

The first formula given at that web page worked for me once I'd tinkered with the details to fit my actual case. And I needed to replace commas by semicolons. (The formula as given will not find instances of zero in the list.)

Note that it is an array formula, so you need to complete it using Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead of plain Enter. The formula will then show with {braces} around it in the Input Line (but you cannot achieve the same result by typing braces yourself).

Note also that it seems that you cannot fill the array formula down the column by dragging the fill handle. Instead, copy the formula from the original cell, select all the target cells, and paste.

I trust this helps.

Indeed in B2 (first enter) it seems to work fine. I should have clarified, when I copy/paste in selected range (B column starting at B3) the value in B2 just gets repeated (ie. it's not finding unique values, instead it's just repeating the first found value in A column.

Best,
Joel

#4

Hi Joel,

if you do not want to use formulas, there are at least three options to do
it in a simple way.

1) Menu/Data/Pivot Table

<http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/file/n4077276/Captura.png>

1) Menu/Data/Consolidate

<http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/file/n4077276/Captura.png>

2) Menu/Data/Filter/Standar filter | Advanced filter

<http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/file/n4077276/Captura2.png>

Regards.
Miguel Ángel.

#5

None of these will work, I need a formulas as it's part of a bigger project analyzing my finances. Thanks though for the suggestion.

Best,
Joel

#6

That's what happens for me if I drag the fill handle down the column, but - as I said - it works for me if I copy the first cell (B2 in your example) and paste it into later cells in the column. You need to copy the contents of the prototype cell (B2), not the contents of the Input Line for that cell.

I'll send you an example privately.

Brian Barker

#7

Oh, and note also that - since the MATCH() function supports regular expressions - any characters in the data that have special meanings in regular expressions may upset the operation of this formula unless you have Tools | Options... | LibreOffice Calc | Calculate | Enable regular expressions in formulas *unticked*.

Brian Barker

#8

Joel,

Suggestions appreciated as always

Do you *have* to use LibreOffice for that?

(I find it sometimes quicker to just export the data list into a text
file and do a "sort -u" on it)

Nino

#9

Joel,

Suggestions appreciated as always

Do you *have* to use LibreOffice for that?

(I find it sometimes quicker to just export the data list into a text
file and do a "sort -u" on it)

Nino

#10

Yeah I did have to, there was a formula dependent on it, adding additional export steps wasn't necessary, Brian figured out the problem, regular expressions needed to be turned off as the brackets in my data were causing issues.

Best,
Joel