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You can use the Excel UNIQUE function to extract a list of unique or distinct items from a range of Excel cell values. It’s really easy.
Just type “=u” into a cell and you’ll see a list of Excel functions pop up. Double-click UNIQUE in the list to start your formula. Enter the cell range that contains your values. Your formula should look something like this:
=UNIQUE(B4:B16)
Press ENTER to see the results.
Make sure that you leave enough empty space under the formula to show the results. Otherwise you might get an error.
As the extraction is done with a formula that means it’s dynamic. You only have to do it once. If you ever change the entries in the original list then the extraction of your unique values automatically updates to reflect the changes.
Oh, you wanted the results in alphabetical order did you?
The UNIQUE function can’t do that, but the SORT function can. All you have to do is wrap one function inside the other.
Double-click your formula so that you can do the required edit. Type SORT and an open bracket at the start then a closed bracket at the end.
Your formula should now look something like this:
=SORT(UNIQUE(B4:B16))
Press ENTER and your formula now returns the entries in alphabetical order. A-Z order is the default for the SORT function.
Some people get very angry when you say things like “almost unique” or “very unique” because unique, properly, means “one of a kind”. It’s an absolute idea. The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of everything in the list but excluding any repetitions. It should really be called DISTINCT, but they’ve gone for a more popular definition of unique.
You can change this if you want to.
The function has a few optional arguments. You need the third one:
TRUE- Return items that appear exactly once
FALSE- Return every distinct item
Change your formula so that it reads as follows:
=UNIQUE(B4:B16,,TRUE)
Two commas means you’re giving the third argument. TRUE to return items that appear exactly once.
And here’s the result. There’s only one item. Corunna only appears once in the list. It’s one of a kind.
In fact, it’s unique!
The UNIQUE function is just one of the new type of Excel functions, Dynamic Array Functions that were released with Excel 365. To learn more about these revolutionary functions, come along on our dedicated Excel Dynamic Array Functions Course.
Call 020 7920 9500 now for details.
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