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 is 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 is designed to handle the messy, real-world data that the built-in tool cannot. 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.
How to Remove Duplicates with Flookup (Step-by-Step)
Here is 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 > 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 is more accurate: Flookup's advanced fuzzy and sound-alike matching algorithms can find duplicates that other tools miss.
- It is 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, whether in a spreadsheet or through an automated workflow, so you can focus on more important tasks.
Final Thoughts
Do not 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.