Finding duplicates with a helper column among number strings starting with zero

RAdamowicz

Hello!

I'm trying to create a helper column with conditional formatting to identify duplicates in a column. The numbers in this column are employee numbers pulled from an HR report, so I cannot change how they are formatted. Some of them start with a zero, while others start with a one. I tried using the formula =COUNTIFS(Column:Column, Column@row) to count if an employee number appears more than once on this sheet. This formula isn't working correctly though - it returns a 0 for any number that begins with a zero as if there is no match, which I am assuming is something to do with the apostrophe that naturally appears at the beginning of number strings that start with zero. Does anyone have any advice or a workaround for this?

Thanks in advance!

Paul Newcome

I would suggest a helper column that converts them all into numbers. Then write your formula based off of this helper column.

=VALUE([Employee ID]@row)

Paul Newcome

I would suggest a helper column that converts them all into numbers. Then write your formula based off of this helper column.

=VALUE([Employee ID]@row)

RAdamowicz

Thanks Paul, that worked!

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️