HOW TO EASILY REMOVE DUPLICATES IN GOOGLE SHEETS
Introduction
Duplicate data is a common headache for anyone working with spreadsheets. It can lead to inaccurate analysis, wasted time, and frustrating errors. While Google Sheets has a built-in feature to remove duplicates, it has some serious limitations. In this guide, we'll show you how to use the native feature and then introduce you to a much more powerful and flexible solution: Flookup.
The Built-in "Remove Duplicates" Feature in Google Sheets
Google Sheets has a basic tool for removing duplicate rows. Here's how to use it:
- Select the data range where you want to remove duplicates.
- Go to Data > Data cleanup > Remove duplicates.
- Choose which columns to analyze for duplicates.
- Click Remove duplicates.
This feature is quick and easy for simple cases. However, it has one major drawback: it only finds and removes exact duplicates. If you have any variations in spelling, capitalization, or formatting, the built-in tool will miss them.
Introducing Flookup: The Advanced Solution for Deduplication
Flookup is a powerful Google Sheets add-on that takes deduplication to the next level. It's designed to handle the messy, real-world data that the built-in tool can't. With Flookup, you can:
- Remove exact duplicates, just like the native feature.
- Remove duplicates with slight variations using fuzzy matching.
- Remove duplicates that sound the same using sound-alike matching.
- And much more!
How to Remove Duplicates with Flookup (Step-by-Step)
Here's how to use Flookup to clean your data:
- Install the Flookup Data Wrangler add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
- Open your Google Sheet and go to Extensions > Flookup Data Wrangler > Transformation functions > Remove duplicates.
- Choose your desired matching method:
- By percentage: This is for fuzzy matching. You can set a similarity threshold to control how strict the matching is.
- By sound: This is for finding duplicates that sound the same, even if they are spelled differently.
- Follow the instructions in the sidebar to select your data, choose your options, and remove duplicates.
Why Flookup is the Best Way to Remove Duplicates in Google Sheets
Here are a few reasons why Flookup is the ultimate tool for deduplication in Google Sheets:
- It's more accurate: Flookup's fuzzy and sound-alike matching algorithms can find duplicates that other tools miss.
- It's more flexible: You have more control over how duplicates are identified and removed.
- It saves you time: Flookup automates the tedious process of cleaning your data, so you can focus on more important tasks.
Final Thoughts
Don't let duplicate data get the best of you. While the built-in "Remove Duplicates" feature in Google Sheets is a good starting point, Flookup provides the power and flexibility you need to handle even the most complex deduplication tasks.
Ready to get started? Install Flookup Data Wrangler for free and take control of your data!