Multiple groups

**Sora** · 05-17-2017, 02:53 PM

Hello everybody!

First let me tell you some background information. I have two columns of data in a worksheet which I need to sort of group together. I have been using Dictionary object and Union range so I can have multiple items under one key. This worked wonderfully until I came across a problem where I need to add a new item (which is not in any cell) to one key and I would very much like to keep it that way.

I have no idea what I could do. I've been thinking about using Collections under Dictionary keys but the problem is that I don't know how many collections there will be beforehand.

Is there anyone around reading this Forum who might know of a way to accomplish this in some manner?

At least tell me if this is completely impossible, please...

**Arkadi** · 05-17-2017, 03:06 PM

Although I get the general idea, it is hard to visualize what exactly you need... however, you could look into nested dictionaries to see if this helps?

**Sora** · 05-18-2017, 03:02 PM

Let me give you a simple example of what I'm doing (not in reality). We've got names in one column and some values in another. There might be some duplicate names in there so I've used names as keys and the values are in a Union "under" those keys. I hope this helps in visualizing.

As the original post stated, I need to add a value, that is only in the module, to one or more of those keys. I would rather not go into details as to why, but that's just how it is.

I Have looked in to nested dictionaries before and I don't believe that is going to cut it, I might be wrong though.

If you still think that works, could you please try and explain your idea?

**Arkadi** · 05-18-2017, 04:12 PM

I don't know how you are using the data, but could you not just use a delimiter between values, and if a name is already a key in the dictionary, just append the new value? you could then, when using the data, use the split function to create an array of the values for that name, and work with that?
I realize the data is probably sensitive, but if you could provide a workbook with some sample data illustrating the scenario and how the data is used (perhaps the macro that this pertains to), that would make it easier to come up with a suitable solution?

For example, if "John" already exists in the dictionary with a value ABC, and there is another instance of John with DEF, you could append a character that is not in the data, lets say ^ for argument's sake... so that the new value for the key John, would be ABC^DEF. Later when using the values, just break up the value for the key using Split(value for john,"^")

**Sora** · 05-19-2017, 10:33 AM

I hadn't thought of that. I think that actually works. Thanks for the suggestion.

The items actually contain numbers and I need to put them in order.

I made this using the delimiter idea. If you get any more ideas after checking that out, I would be glad to hear them.