I trade the stock market..I use a charting systen that i can load
hundreds of stock symbols into(for reveiwing my charts)...in column
form.(single column) Here's
what I need and why.
There is a need for me to add and delete stock symbols weekly.I can go to
websites that post the most active, the weekly highs, lows etc..
I can copy and paste these lists of stock symbols into my charting
column..The problem is, I am loading hundreds of new symbols at a
time (sometimes 300-400 additional symbols).And there is no way to
detect duplicate symbols until I load into
this charting column. At times I have upwards of 1500 symbols loaded.
After loading into column,I have to manually go the entire column and
delete the dupicates, triplicates sometimes quads (the symbols will
post in column as pairs
etc in my chart column)..This is very time consuming..It takes approx 2-4 hrs to do
depending on the number of duplicates..If ther are trips and quads it
takes forever..
Is there a program that i can copy and paste my existing symbols to in
column form, and then copy and paste other lists of symbols onto the
same worksheet, and they will sort and only post the new data
(symbols)..
My inexperienced theory and dream would be..
Go thru my existing column of symbols and delete the dogs..
Open spreadsheet / worksheet..
Paste my existing symbols into a workspace column..300-800 symbols
Copy and paste new symbols into another column or same column (adding
at the bottom)...
Clik the ascending option and the symbols sort alphabetically and
delete duplicates..
Then simply copy and paste from this worksheet into my stock chart columns..

I would sure appreciate some help with this, as i said, it is very
time consuming and boring...It's also kinda hard on my wrists having
to click the up and down keys and hit delete key for hours..
Thank you..

benbowpro...

If I understand your query correctly, there is such a utility,
created by Jacob Hilderbrand, a true geek and VBA master who
created this amongst a variety of what are called macros in
Excel. His portfolio of macros is here:
http://vbaexpress.com/forum/member.php?u=135

The delete duplicates function you are seeking is on this page:
http://www.vbaexpress.com/kb/getarticle.php?kb_id=135

I just tried it out, creating columns of numbers and letters.
I tried it first on one column, and it handily deleted all but
unique entries. I tried it on two columns at a time, and it 
handily deleted all but unique entries in *each* column, 
independently of the other, so that column A might still
contain entries found also in column B, but each column only
listed each unique entry once.

To use this, don't bother with the code on that page. Simply 
download the DeleteDups.zip file from the bottom of the page,
and this will serve as a template Excel page which already 
has the Macro built in, and into which you can post your data.

Then, based on the description you offered, copy and paste
the "dog"-free list into column A, followed by pasting the
list of new entries beneath it. Sort or don't, but you can
then highlight the entire column, either by highlighting all
the entries, or by simply clicking on the A at the top of the
column. After highlighting, go to the menu bar up top and 
click on Tools -> Macro -> Macros, highlight the DeleteDups
macro, and click on Run. This will quickly eliminate all but
unique entries in column A. You can sort after deleting all
the duplicates, as easily as sorting beforehand.

You can then either copy and paste that data to a separate
sheet, and close the original DeleteDups.xls file without
saving changes, so as to preserve the original template,
or you can click on Save As (not just Save, which will 
permanently save your data under the template filename!)
from the File menu, and give the sorted version a new name, 
which will also preserve the original template with its
original name, empty of data.


I believe this will do exactly what you've requested, but 
if it doesn't succeed in turning a 4-hour wrist torture
into a 1-minute joy, do let me know what's not working
as it should.

Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that  
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog  
established through the "Request for Clarification" process. 
 
A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here: 
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify 
 
sublime1-ga


Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches outlined below.

Productive searches done, via Google:

excel "delete duplicates in a column"
://www.google.com/search?q=excel+%22delete+duplicates+in+a+column%22

---

Request for Answer Clarification by benbowpro-ga on 10 Jul 2005 20:18 PDT

Thank you so much Sumblime...
This program looks like exactley what I am looking for..
At this time I am having a problem using the macros program because of
security level..
I get a notice that "macros in this have been disabled because
security level is high, the macros have not been digitally signed or
verified. To run macros you can either have them signed or change your
security level"..
 I have changed security level theu internet options, to no avail..
I need to figure this setting out...gonna eat and be back to see what
i can figure out...if you have trick up your sleeve, I'll gladly use
it...Thanks..

---

Clarification of Answer by sublime1-ga on 12 Jul 2005 04:42 PDT

Hi benbowpro...

Sorry for taking so long...I've been offline for 2 days dealing
with my own nightmare - a blown power supply and the inability
to access my normal drive. I'm accessing the net now by way of
a drive I'd marked as "failing", but at the moment, it's the
only one I'm able to use...thank goodness for that.

It sounds like srwarrior-ga has pointed you in the direction
you need to go. If more assistance is needed, I'll hopefully
be back in full control in a day or two.

sublime1-ga

thanx Sublime1..Have to work out a couple bugs with the program...but
feel confident it will serve us well...

Change security level to low and add trust access to Visual Basic Projects

This is available in excel, Tools, Macro, Security... in the first tab
you will get level and in the next tab you can get the visual basic
accress security

Hope this helps... it has nothing to do with explorer settings...

Regards

Thank you..reset security in Excel...will also add the trust access setting..

I'd recommend changing the security level to medium instead. This will
prompt you each time you open the spreadsheet, so you can let VBA run
when you open that sheet but still have some protection from viruses
and the like.

I hope I understand your issue. Below are two quick methods I use to
weed out duplicates in excel tables.Please let me know if this help
you out.

#1
Highlight the range of data.
Select from the menu, Data, Filter, Advanced Filter
In the dialog box 
            Under Action click on the button Copy to Another Location
            Ensure the list range contains the correct data range (or
reselect if need be)
            In Copy to, select the top left corner (home) of where the
unique  data is to be copied to
            Click the check box of unique records.
 
            Criteria range can be left blank (unless you have specific
criteria)
 
 
#2
Import  the data into MS Access as a table.
Create at query with all (or what ever fields you need)
For the query properties select Unique values or records (which ever are
needed)
 
Both methods should take about 2 minutes.