How can I find duplicate text values in two columns?

[gfmp123]

Hello,

I'm not very good with Excel and could use help with my task. I have two columns of data. Column A are names of people who belong to an organization. Column B are names of people who have attended a meeting. I need to find all the names in Column A that are present in Column B. Can someone help me with this?


Right now the formula I'm using is =IF(NOT(ISERROR(MATCH(A11,B:B,0))), "DUPLICATE", "") however it doesn't seem to be totally effective. For example, one name "Mach" is present in Column A and B but doesn't return "DUPLICATE". Many others, however, do.


Thanks for your help.

 

[Faseeh]

Hi gfmp123,


Welcome to the Forums!!!


1. You can simply Highlight Duplicates through Conditional Formatting to show which have appeared in meeting.


2. Your formula apparently is correct, can you upload a sample file so that it can be examined for error.


Regards,

Faseeh

 

[sdsurzh]

Hi GFMP123,


You can also refer the below link:


http://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/774-excel-find-duplicates-in-two-columns.html


Thanks,

Suresh Kumar S

 

[gfmp123]

Hi everyone,

Here is an editable example of what I'm looking at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmLPCvepr-4BdFZZRzF3NFR2QW1YNTl6ODFlV20tWVE


You will see the name "Mach" in both columns A and C but the formula I'm using doesn't register this duplication, even though it registers many others. What's going on?


Thanks!

 

[majay1973]

hi gfmp123...


Checked the file mentioned at the link... Don't seem to see any problem here..


Just need to tweak the formula a little bit...


The formula in cell B2 is "IF(ISERROR(MATCH(A1,$C$1:$C$500,0)),"",A1)"


shouldnt it be "IF(ISERROR(MATCH(A2,$C$1:$C$500,0)),"",A2)"..


Mach was getting detected with the earlier formula as well just that it was coming up at B200 instead of B199 (since Mach was in A199)...


Have a great day...