Updating rows - Excel Formula or Something Else?

[Guest]

I need to update a set of rows in an Excel worksheet. Here is the example:

*********************
ColA ColB
265004357
Wife
Daughter
Son
Son

265089764
Child
Child
Husband

265098308
Spouse
Daughter
Daughter
*******************

I need to insert the unique number at the beginning of a group of rows (each
unique group is separted by a blank row) into colB and skip to the new uique
number when the group changes. Here is what the data should look like:

*********************
ColA ColB
265004357 265004357
Wife 265004357
Daughter 265004357
Son 265004357
Son 265004357

265089764 265089764
Child 265089764
Child 265089764
Husband 265089764

265098308 265098308
Spouse 265098308
Daughter 265098308
Daughter 265098308
*******************

Can I do this with an Excel formula or do I need to use something else (eg.
VB)?

Please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Attila

 

[Guest]

insert a row immediately below 'ColA ColB' so there is a blank row
Assuming the 1st SSN (265004357) begins at cell A2 and there is a blank row
between each data set, in B2 put...
=IF(LEN(B1)=0,A2,IF(LEN(A2)=0,"",B1))
and copy it down.

HTH,
Gary Brown

 

[Biff]

Hi!

Here's one way:

Assume your data in column A starts in cell A1. In B1
enter this array formula using the key combo of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER:

=IF(A1="","",INDEX(A$1:A1,LARGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A$1:A1),ROW
(A$1:A1)),ROW($1:$1))))

Copy down as needed. I'm assuming that the numbers
represented in your data are actually numbers and not text.

Biff