Duplicate Selections in a drop-down list / How to select correct one

[MrHydrant1857]

All,

i have a table of contacts with the following column names: Contact Name, Company, City, State, Phone, Email. my main page has a drop-down list that has all the Contact Names. when i select a name from the drop down i use vlookup to input the company, city, state, phone, and email into their appropriate cells.. the issue i am running into is that when i have a duplicate name, but different city, state, etc., that excel is only picking up on the first selection in the table. i am looking for a way to get around this and make sure i can have duplicate names but select the correct one. see attached images.

 

[jasonb75]

It would not be possible to identify the correct entry from duplicates in the way that you want, a unique identifier would be required.

The only possible 'workaround' would be to add a space to the end of the second "John Smith " in order to make it different. If you have a third John Smith then add 2 spaces to that one and so on.

 

[Anthony47]

Another option, conceptually similar to what has been suggested by @jasonb75 , above, is that you create a validation list that includes:
-RowNumber + Contact + City (or Company)
Then use this in the dropdown list, and use the RowNumber for getting the detailed information

Bye

 

[MrHydrant1857]

It would not be possible to identify the correct entry from duplicates in the way that you want, a unique identifier would be required.

The only possible 'workaround' would be to add a space to the end of the second "John Smith " in order to make it different. If you have a third John Smith then add 2 spaces to that one and so on.

is there a way to give each duplicate a specific number such as "(1),(2), or (3)" without it showing in the cell once selected? or am i asking to much lol

 

[MrHydrant1857]

is there a way to give each duplicate a specific number such as "(1),(2), or (3)" without it showing in the cell once selected? or am i asking to much lol

probably should mention that i am using a userform to enter contact information.

 

[jasonb75]

Whatever you use, it would need to be a unique identifier in the cell (which would be visible).

@Anthony47 perhaps you could be so kind as to elaborate on your suggestion with a visual example.

 

[Anthony47]

For example


The formula used in G2:

=IF(A2<>"",ROW(A2)&" # "&A2&" # "&B2,"")

The list in column G is used in your drop-down list (is it a listbox?)
After the selection, you estract the character(s) before the first "#" and use it as the "Index" in the sorce table



Bye