How do I find a repeating set of cells in Excel? - algorithm

Question

I Have a 2100 Rows and 6 Columns Table
Throughout the table there are only 12 Possible values, say A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L
The 12th value L is just a blank filler. It denotes blank cell.
Since there are only 11 possible values througout the table, patterns are observed.
First a Pattern Appears and it is later repeated somewhere in the table.
There can be any number of Patterns, but i have a specific format for a pattern which is to found and reported that way.
Solutions in EXCEL-VBA, PHP-MYSQL or C are welcome.
I have attached an example of what Iam looking for. Suggestions are most welcome to refine
the questions.
Information & Format : http://ge.tt/8QkQJet1/v/0 [ DOCX File 234 KB ]
Example in Excel Sheet : http://ge.tt/69htuNt1/v/0 [ XLSX File 16 KB ]
Please comment for more information or specific requirement.

Answer 1

Please try the code below, change the range to what you need it to be and the sheet number to the correct sheet number (I wouldn't put your full range in just yet because if you have 1000 pattern finds, you'll have to click OK on the message box 1000 times, just test with a partial range)
This will scan through the range, and find any pattern of two within a 10 row range, if you need it to find bigger patterns, youll need to add the same code again with an extra IF statement checking the next offset.
This will only find it if the same pattern exists and the same column structure is present, but its a start for you
Works fine on testing
Sub test10()
Dim rCell As Range
Dim rRng As Range
Set rRng = Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A1:I60") '-1 on column due to offset
'Scan through all cells in range and find pattern
For Each rCell In rRng.Cells
If rCell.Value = "" Then GoTo skip
For i = 1 To 10
If rCell.Value = rCell.Offset(i, 0).Value Then
If rCell.Offset(0, 1).Value = rCell.Offset(i, 1) Then
MsgBox "Match Found at: " & rCell.Address & ":" & rCell.Offset(0, 1).Address & " and " & rCell.Offset(i, 0).Address & ":" & rCell.Offset(i, 1).Address
End If
End If
Next i
skip:
Next rCell
End Sub
***UPDATE***
I have updated my code, the following now finds the pattern wherever it may appear in the next 10 rows:
Sub test10()
Dim rCell As Range
Dim rRng As Range
Dim r1 As Range
Dim r2 As Range
Set rRng = Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A1:I50") '-1 on column due to offset
i = 1 'row length
y = 0 'column length
'Scan through all cells in range and find pattern
For Each rCell In rRng.Cells
If rCell.Value = "" Then GoTo skip
i = 1
Do Until i = 10
y = 0
Do Until y = 10
xcell = rCell.Value & rCell.Offset(0, 1).Value
Set r1 = Range(rCell, rCell.Offset(0, 1))
r1.Select
ycell = rCell.Offset(i, y).Value & rCell.Offset(i, y + 1).Value
Set r2 = Range(rCell.Offset(i, y), rCell.Offset(i, y + 1))
If ycell = xcell Then
Union(r1, r2).Font.Bold = True
Union(r1, r2).Font.Italic = True
Union(r1, r2).Font.Color = &HFF&
MsgBox "Match Found at: " & rCell.Address & ":" & rCell.Offset(0, 1).Address & " and " & rCell.Offset(i, y).Address & ":" & rCell.Offset(i, y + 1).Address
Union(r1, r2).Font.Bold = False
Union(r1, r2).Font.Italic = False
Union(r1, r2).Font.Color = &H0&
End If
y = y + 1
Loop
i = i + 1
Loop
skip:
Next rCell
End Sub