HOW CAN I PREVENT DUPLICATE ENTRIES WITHIN A WORKBOOK, i.e. job #

[Guest]

i need to enter data in a very large database, however, if i made a duplicate
entry, i would like to set excel to notify me that it's a duplicate. i.e. i
have technicians that go out on jobs---there is only 1 job # period---however
sometimes the main office we work with prints out a stack of work orders and
some of them weren't cleared from 2 weeks prior (there's a definite time lag
problem that's not mine to solve) but they wind up sending me another copy
---- trying to type in 200-500 entries a day or having to search each one in
the database to be sure i'm not creating a duplicate is taking its toll but
nonetheless job security so far. isn't there a way to set excel databases up
to sound an alarm or alert that i'm entering a duplicate job #? thanks for
whatever help anyone can possibly give me.....i'm not strong in excel
formulas etc. and need step by step instructions ---perferably with pictures
lol

thank you in advance

 

[Guest]

One option, you could use Conditional Formatting to highlight a cell if it is
a duplicate. For this example, I'm going to assume your Job #s are stored in
column A.

Select entire Column A (click on the "A" header above cell A1)
From the Format Menu, choose "Conditional Formatting..."
Change "Cell Value Is" to "Formula Is"
Enter the formula: =COUNTIF(A:A,A1)>1
Select your format (bright red background?)
Click OK

Now, any duplicate numbers in column A should be highlighted red (or
whichever format you chose).

If your Job #s are stored somewhere other than Column A, then adjust the
above steps accordingly, or post back with more info if you're still having
trouble.

HTH,
Elkar