Hello All,

Subtitle: "Add numericals values to names within the same field to create unique usernames"

I didn't know quite what to call this process, so its descriptive, so please read examples carefully... here goes:

GOAL : I want to create unique usernames (no 2 can be the same) for export into a MySQL database from an existing spreadsheet from first names only (no last names avail) that are the same, see BEFORE example below:

PROBLEM : Many records in the username column have the same or common names but all usernames must be unique to be used in a log-in username for member forum or blog as seen below:

BEFORE:
member ID_______username______email address
1_________________ mark_______________mark@isp.com
2_________________ steve_______________steve@aol.com
3_________________ john_______________jpaul@next.com
4_________________ john_______________john@turkey.com
5_________________ ellen_______________ellen@aol.com
6_________________ chris_______________cwells@isp.com
7_________________ chris_______________chris@money.com
8_________________ chris_______________chris@aol.com


AFTER - METHOD#1 -here I propose to temporarily put username in asending (alphabetical) order select the same names and somehow add a number begining with 1 then 2,3,4..and so on to get the following result seem below:

member ID_______username______email address
1_________________ mark_______________mark@isp.com
2_________________ steve_______________steve@aol.com
3_________________ john1_______________jpaul@next.com
4_________________ john2_______________john@turkey.com
5_________________ ellen_______________ellen@aol.com
6_________________ chris1_______________cwells@isp.com
7_________________ chris2_______________chris@money.com
8_________________ chris3_______________chris@aol.com


AFTER METHOD#2: Somehow combine the username column with the member ID column to create a unique username:

member ID_______username______email address
1_________________ mark1_______________mark@isp.com
2_________________ steve2_______________steve@aol.com
3_________________ john3_______________jpaul@next.com
4_________________ john4_______________john@turkey.com
5_________________ ellen5_______________ellen@aol.com
6_________________ chris6_______________cwells@isp.com
7_________________ chris7_______________chris@money.com
8_________________ chris8_______________chris@aol.com

Please explain step-by-step how to have results similar to the example AFTER METHODS 1 or 2 or both in Excel (Mac preferred) windows O.K..

Any other ideas to skin this cat are welcome!

Thank so much in advance for your help!

Best,

-JP