Expert: Scottgem - 1/2/2009

Question
I want free software for checking duplicate words in Excel (Deduplication check Software).


I have more than 50 thousand name, address and phone numbers in one sheet and it keep on increasing every month. I get new names and addresses every day which I have to check every day with this database of 50 thousand. Is there any way out where I can do a duplication check of new name with this data base of 50 thousand and can give me a result in new sheet about all the existing records with all details in that row. For example....if I am searching for "Mr.A" it can give me all the existing records about “Mr.” in row with his address and phone number. In the same way if I search by phone number it can give me all the existing records with name and addresses.

To be more specific I am providing you certain details of my work.
I have a database of 50 thousand customers. Name, Address, Phone no, etc in row in one file.
I get 10-15 new customer details every day with name, address, phone no etc.
I have to check on all parameters (i.e. First name, Surname, Address, Phone no, etc) one by one of this new customers in my database of 50 thousand customers every day using control “F” whether such customer already exist or not which is time consuming as you know.

Presently I am using Control "F" function on first name, surname, address, phone no, etc one by one to check of new data with my database of 50 thousand customers whether new customer already exists in my database or not which is time consuming.

Hence I require a software which can give me all probabilities if I enter only surname or first name or address or phone and hitting a single key it can give me all the records in one file  whether that surname/first name/address/phone numbers already exist in my database of 50 thousand customers or not.

I know this is possible hence request your help.

Answer
I do not know of any free software that will check for duplications in an Excel sheet. They may exist, but I've not run across any. However, I think you have outgrown Excel with your usage. You would be much better off using Microsoft Access to manage this database. Access has built in tools for finding duplications.

Hope this helps,
Scott<>
Microsoft Access MVP 2007
Author: Microsoft Office Access 2007 VBA