Comparing Cells + Only displaying unique values.

I'm not sure how to approach this:


Example 1

So, I have 4 cells containing names. Imagine cells A1 to D1 containing:

John | John | Smith | John

Now, I want cell E1 to compare the cells and neatly display each unique name. So I'd want the value of cell E1 to be:

John / Smith


Example 2

John | John | John | John

This should result in just "John" in E1


Example 3

John | Smith | John | Tomato

This should result in "John / Smith / Tomato" in E1

Also, I'd like the names to be in order, so in this third example the result I've shown is what would be expected.

This isn't too complex, in terms of human logic, but I added some examples just in case it wasn't clear enough to build a function.


So yeah, awaiting replies, hopefully someone has an efficient solution to this.

is the data just one long column ?

then this is A bit of indirect approach
but i guess you could use pivot table ?

transpose to row first, give header, insert pivot table, and then just drag whatever header you give the data to row labels

Add this UDF to your VB editor (Alt + F11, Insert|Module)

Function aconcat(a As Variant, Optional sep As String = "") As String
' Harlan Grove, Mar 2002
Dim y As Variant

If TypeOf a Is Range Then
For Each y In a.Cells
aconcat = aconcat & y.Value & sep
Next y
ElseIf IsArray(a) Then
For Each y In a
aconcat = aconcat & y & sep
Next y
Else
aconcat = aconcat & a & sep
End If

aconcat = Left(aconcat, Len(aconcat) - Len(sep))
End Function

Then in E1 enter formula:

=SUBSTITUTE(TRIM(aconcat(IF(MATCH(A1:D1,A1:D1,0)=COLUMN(A1:D1)-COLUMN($A$1)+1,A1:D1,"")," "))," ","/")

confirmed with CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER not just ENTER

If you truly only have 4 cells to compare per group, then even this formula:

=SUBSTITUTE(TRIM(A1&" "&IF(B1=A1,"",B1)&" "&IF(COUNTIF(A1:B1,C1),"",C1)&" "&IF(COUNTIF(A1:C1,D1),"",D1))," ","/")

with no UDF or special confirmations.

Thanks for those quick replies, that last post was the one. It works flawlessly, really appreciate it, NBVC.

vxg, I also appreciate you taking the time to attempt a solution.

I'm glad I could learn from you both.

Topic Solved.