MS Excel 2003: Test for duplicates in two columns, combined
This Excel tutorial explains how to write a macro to test for duplicates in two columns in Excel 2003 and older versions (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).
Question: In Microsoft Excel 2003/XP/2000/97, is it possible to write a macro which would highlight any duplicate values where both columns A and B in two or more lines are the same?
Answer: Let's look at an example.
Download Excel spreadsheet (as demonstrated below)
In our spreadsheet, we've set up values in both columns A and B. On this sheet, we've created a button that when clicked will launch a macro. This macro will highlight any duplicate values where both columns A and B in two or more lines are the same.
In our example, we've clicked on the button. Now the background color of the duplicates will turn red as follows:
In this example, the same values have been entered in rows 2 and 6.
You can press Alt+F11 to view the VBA code.
Please note that the LRows variable in this macro is set to 200 indicating that the macro will test the first 200 rows in columns A and B for duplicates. You may need to change this value to accommodate your volume of data.
Macro Code
The macro code looks like this:
Sub TestForDups() Dim LLoop As Integer Dim LTestLoop As Integer Dim LClearRange As String Dim Lrows As Integer Dim LRange As String 'Column A values Dim LChangedValue As String Dim LTestValue As String 'Column B values Dim LChangedValueB As String Dim LTestValueB As String 'Test first 200 rows in spreadsheet for uniqueness Lrows = 200 LLoop = 2 'Clear all flags LClearRange = "A2:B" & Lrows Range(LClearRange).Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone 'Check first 200 rows in spreadsheet While LLoop <= Lrows LChangedValue = "A" & CStr(LLoop) LChangedValueB = "B" & CStr(LLoop) If Len(Range(LChangedValue).Value) > 0 Then 'Test each value for uniqueness LTestLoop = 2 While LTestLoop <= Lrows If LLoop <> LTestLoop Then LTestValue = "A" & CStr(LTestLoop) LTestValueB = "B" & CStr(LTestLoop) 'Value has been duplicated in another cell If (Range(LChangedValue).Value = Range(LTestValue).Value) And (Range(LChangedValueB).Value = Range(LTestValueB).Value) Then 'Set the background color to red in column A Range(LChangedValue).Interior.ColorIndex = 3 Range(LTestValue).Interior.ColorIndex = 3 'Set the background color to red in column B Range(LChangedValueB).Interior.ColorIndex = 3 Range(LTestValueB).Interior.ColorIndex = 3 End If End If LTestLoop = LTestLoop + 1 Wend End If LLoop = LLoop + 1 Wend End Sub
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