If A2=A1, make B2=B1

[rpsales]

I spent a good bit searching for this answer before I posted, I didn't want to ask something already answered, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere (probably not using the right search terms).

I fill out spreadsheets a lot with duplicate information, such as phone numbers. I want an IF formula that if the company name (A2) is the same as the company name (A1), then the phone number in B2 be the same as the one entered in B1. If it's not the same, then obviously I'll enter a new one. Is this possible?

 

[Sandler]

Do you have an excel list of all the company names and phone numbers? You need this original list.

You can use a remove duplicates function to get this original list.

Then you can use a vlookup formula on the section that gets duplicated to just have it fill with the correct phone number.

 

[inarbeth]

I think you are best using a VLOOKUP formula rather than IF statements. Put your telephone address book on a separate sheet and then add to it as new names and numbers arise. If you give the address book range a name you can expand the book without having to change your formulas.

 

[rpsales]

Looks like this: Call Log
Company Name	Contact Name	Position	Number	Ext.	Reached	Outcome	Last Call
Barnes & Noble	Brad Feuer	VP, GC and CS	(212) 633-3300		No		4/14/16
Barnes & Noble	Teri Rodriguez	AGC	(212) 633-3300	6109	No	6109	4/14/16
Under Armour	John Stanton	SVP, GC and CS	(410) 454-6428		No		4/14/16
Under Armour	Kristen Herber	Sr. Couns., Lit	(410) 454-6428		No		4/14/16

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</tbody>

 

[rpsales]

I'm filling the information out myself. I look up companies of interest and just put them here for a call log. No larger database or anything. Just google and wikipedia.

 

[Snakehips]

If you do not wish to using vba then you are faced with the fact that a cell cannot hold both a formula and text at the same time.

However you may be happy to populate D with the formula below which will populate any consecutive duplicates or prompt for a manual entry.
You will then be left with a mix of formulas and text but you could eventually do a Cop >> Paste Special >> Values to commit all to hard data.

Excel Workbook
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
1	Company Name	Contact Name	Position	Number	Ext.	Reached	Outcome	Last Call
2	A Company			Enter Number
3	Barnes & Noble	Brad Feuer	VP, GC and CS	(212) 633-3300		No		4/14/16
4	Barnes & Noble	Teri Rodriguez	AGC	(212) 633-3300	6109	No	6109	4/14/16
5	Under Armour	John Stanton	SVP, GC and CS	(410) 454-6428		No		4/14/16
6	Under Armour	Kristen Herber	Sr. Couns., Lit	(410) 454-6428		No		4/14/16
7	B Company			Enter Number
8
Sheet1

Hope that helps.

 

[rpsales]

Tony, thank you so much. That was exactly what I wanted. I was expecting to have to enter a new number eventually, I just wanted it to copy above data if the company stayed the same.