Filter function not working

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It sounds like you are encountering issues with the FILTER function handling blank cells and duplicating information when filtering across entire columns. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

Use FILTER with a Condition to Exclude Blanks

Make sure your FILTER function explicitly excludes blank cells. You can do this by adding a condition to the FILTER function.

=FILTER(A:C, (A:A <> "") * (B:B <> ""))

This formula will filter columns A to C and exclude rows where column A or B is blank.

Use UNIQUE to Remove Duplicates

If you are getting duplicates, nesting the FILTER function inside the UNIQUE function should help:

=UNIQUE(FILTER(A:C, (A:A <> "") * (B:B <> "")))

Combine with IF to Handle Blanks More Effectively

If the above does not solve the issue, you can combine FILTER with IF to ensure the last row with zeros is removed:

=IFERROR(FILTER(A:C, (A:A <> "") * (B:B <> "")), "")

This will return an empty result instead of errors, which might help with the unwanted rows at the bottom.

Example Scenario

Assume your data is in columns A, B, and C on Sheet1, and you want to filter it onto Sheet2.

Sheet1

Sheet2

Use the following formula in the target cell (e.g., A1) on Sheet2:

=IFERROR(UNIQUE(FILTER(Sheet1!A:C, (Sheet1!A:A <> "") * (Sheet1!B:B <> ""))), "")

Additional Considerations

1. Check for Hidden Characters: Sometimes, hidden characters like spaces or non-breaking spaces can cause cells to appear blank when they are not. Use TRIM and CLEAN to remove these:

=IFERROR(UNIQUE(FILTER(Sheet1!A:C, (TRIM(CLEAN(Sheet1!A:A)) <> "") * (TRIM(CLEAN(Sheet1!B:B)) <> ""))), "")

1. Data Validation: Ensure that your data doesn't have inconsistent data types or hidden formatting issues.
2. Excel Version: Make sure you are using a version of Excel that supports dynamic arrays and the FILTER function (Excel 365 or Excel 2019).

Debugging Tips

• Check Intermediate Results: Break down your formula and check intermediate results to see where the issue might be occurring.
• Formula Auditing: Use Excel's formula auditing tools to trace and evaluate the formula steps.

By following these steps, you should be able to create a dynamic filter that excludes blank cells and avoids duplicating information. The text, steps and functions were created with the help of AI.

All formulas are untested, it is always recommended to make a backup of the existing file in advance before using the above formulas.

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Hope this will help you.

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