Remove duplicate combinations in your data [quick tip]

By now, we know how to remove duplicates from data. You can use the Remove Duplicates button to do that.

But do you know that we can use remove duplicates button to get rid off duplicate combinations too?

Remove duplicate combinations – Tutorial

To remove duplicate combinations in your data, just follow below 4 steps:

1. Select your data
2. Click on Data > Remove Duplicates button
3. Make sure all columns are checked
4. Click ok and done!

See this demo:

How to remove duplicate combinations in some of the columns

If you just want to remove duplicate combinations of Product & Store alone, you can still use Remove Duplicates feature.

This time, select all 3 columns, but check only first 2 columns in the remove duplicate screen. That should do the trick.

More ways to deal with duplicate data

Duplicate data is not a unique problem, its everywhere. That is why at Chandoo.org, we have a plethora of tips, tutorials & videos to help you deal with the problem. Check out below links to learn more.

• Advanced & array formula approaches:
  • How to extract unique, duplicate & missing items
  • Find if a list has duplicates in it
  • Prevent duplicate data entry
• Pivot Tables & other techniques:
  • Remove duplicates & sort a list
  • How to use Remove Duplicates button
• Highlighting duplicate entries:
  • Highlighting common values / duplicates between 2 lists
  • Highlight repeat customers
  • Compare 2 lists – more techniques, even more techniques, a podcast

How do you deal with duplicates?

I use remove duplicates button every time I get raw data.  It is such a time saver. When I want a more automated solution, I use formulas or pivot tables to knockoff the duplicates.

What about you? How do you deal with duplicates in your data? Please share your tips by posting a comment.

This post is part of Awesome August Excel Festival.