Identify duplicate coloum A cells, and merge their row and text in

[Calla212]

I have exported data from a database into a delimited CSV. file and opened
it in excel.

The database has a field where you can enter a description for an item. It
appears that if the description has a return or is over 32 characters it
creates a new field. On the worksheet you will see duplicate cells in column
A (barcode #'s) with different descriptions in column B.

This makes sorting the worksheet very difficult and almost impossible for
reporting or mantainancing to import back into the database.

Is there a way to identify all the duplicate cell A'S and then have their
corresponding cell B's merge and still retain their text?

 

[tony h]

do you want to do this with vba or on the worksheet?
regards

 

[Calla212]

Sorry don't know vba is.

But I need it all in the worksheet.

 

[tony h]

I'll give you some pointers and see how you get on.

when you import the data the first thing to do is join together the
data.
if the key is in column A insert a blank column at B with the data then
in C.

In column B use a formula like =if(A2<>A1,C2,C1&" "&C2) on line 2 then
copy this down. This should build up the strings. Now get rid of the
formulae in column B by copying Column B and doing a paste special
values. You can now delete column C

Next you need to get rid of the incomplete rows so insert a column A.
on line 1 use the formula =B1=B2 and copy this down The lines you want
to keep are flagged FALSE. do a copy col A and paste special values (to
get rid of the formulas)

you can then sort column A and delete the TRUE lines.


hope this works for you

regards