Excel’s BYCOL() and BYROW() functions evaluate data across columns and rows, returning an array result set allowing you to bypass a lot of work.

If you wish to count the same or duplicate values in a column only once in Excel or the count of occurances of duplicate values, read this article.

Figure C Let’s use Flash Fill to parse entries across three columns. The first step is to create the pattern by entering the first three values manually in row 2.

Click on the Data tab. Then, click Remove Duplicates. Select the columns that might have copies in the dialog box and press OK. Excel will eliminate duplicate entries, leaving unique values.