Updating rows - Excel Formula or Something Else?

I need to update a set of rows in an Excel worksheet. Here is the example:

*********************
ColA ColB
265004357
Wife
Daughter
Son
Son

265089764
Child
Child
Husband

265098308
Spouse
Daughter
Daughter
*******************

I need to insert the unique number at the beginning of a group of rows (each
unique group is separted by a blank row) into colB and skip to the new uique
number when the group changes. Here is what the data should look like:

*********************
ColA ColB
265004357 265004357
Wife 265004357
Daughter 265004357
Son 265004357
Son 265004357

265089764 265089764
Child 265089764
Child 265089764
Husband 265089764

265098308 265098308
Spouse 265098308
Daughter 265098308
Daughter 265098308
*******************

Can I do this with an Excel formula or do I need to use something else (eg.
VB)?

Please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Attila

insert a row immediately below 'ColA ColB' so there is a blank row
Assuming the 1st SSN (265004357) begins at cell A2 and there is a blank row
between each data set, in B2 put...
=IF(LEN(B1)=0,A2,IF(LEN(A2)=0,"",B1))
and copy it down.

HTH,
Gary Brown


"bevpike" wrote:

> I need to update a set of rows in an Excel worksheet. Here is the example:
>
> *********************
> ColA ColB
> 265004357
> Wife
> Daughter
> Son
> Son
>
> 265089764
> Child
> Child
> Husband
>
> 265098308
> Spouse
> Daughter
> Daughter
> *******************
>
> I need to insert the unique number at the beginning of a group of rows (each
> unique group is separted by a blank row) into colB and skip to the new uique
> number when the group changes. Here is what the data should look like:
>
> *********************
> ColA ColB
> 265004357 265004357
> Wife 265004357
> Daughter 265004357
> Son 265004357
> Son 265004357
>
> 265089764 265089764
> Child 265089764
> Child 265089764
> Husband 265089764
>
> 265098308 265098308
> Spouse 265098308
> Daughter 265098308
> Daughter 265098308
> *******************
>
> Can I do this with an Excel formula or do I need to use something else (eg.
> VB)?
>
> Please let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Attila

Hi!

Here's one way:

Assume your data in column A starts in cell A1. In B1
enter this array formula using the key combo of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER:

=IF(A1="","",INDEX(A$1:A1,LARGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A$1:A1),ROW
(A$1:A1)),ROW($1:$1))))

Copy down as needed. I'm assuming that the numbers
represented in your data are actually numbers and not text.

Biff

>-----Original Message-----
>I need to update a set of rows in an Excel worksheet.
Here is the example:
>
>*********************
>ColA ColB
>265004357
>Wife
>Daughter
>Son
>Son
>
>265089764
>Child
>Child
>Husband
>
>265098308
>Spouse
>Daughter
>Daughter
>*******************
>
>I need to insert the unique number at the beginning of a
group of rows (each
>unique group is separted by a blank row) into colB and
skip to the new uique
>number when the group changes. Here is what the data
should look like:
>
>*********************
>ColA ColB
>265004357 265004357
>Wife 265004357
>Daughter 265004357
>Son 265004357
>Son 265004357
>
>265089764 265089764
>Child 265089764
>Child 265089764
>Husband 265089764
>
>265098308 265098308
>Spouse 265098308
>Daughter 265098308
>Daughter 265098308
>*******************
>
>Can I do this with an Excel formula or do I need to use
something else (eg.
>VB)?
>
>Please let me know.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Attila
>.
>