find a row index of a number that occurred first - excel

Question

I have A column that has values in random order like
A column
2
3
4
2
5
6
4
3
4
I want the row index of a particular number that occurred first. say if i say the number is 4 the value returned should be 3
I also want the row index of a particular number that occured last.say if i say the number is 3 then the value returned must be 8
I was thinking Vlookup or find function must do the task but unable to put them in order.please help me with these

Answer 1

My examples are looking for the number 3 but it is easy to adapt.
To find the first occurence, you can use:
=MATCH(3,A:A,0)
To find the last one, you can use an array formula (validate with Ctrl+Shift+Enter)
{=MAX(IF(A1:A10=3,ROW(A1:A10),0))}
Note that you could also have used an array formula for the first one with a MIN but it would be quite complicated for what it's worth.

Answer 2

Hi friend you may use macros to do this
Use the following code
Sub FindNumbers()
Sheet1.Range("B:D") = ""
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
tot = Sheet1.Range("A1048575").End(xlUp).Row
i = 1
k = 1
m = 1
n = 1
o = 1
p = 1
For i = 1 To tot
c = Application.WorksheetFunction.CountIf(Sheet1.Range("B:B"), Sheet1.Range("A" & i).Value)
If c <= 0 Then
Sheet1.Range("B" & k).Value = Sheet1.Range("A" & i).Value
k = k + 1
End If
Next
tots = Sheet1.Range("B1048575").End(xlUp).Row
For m = 1 To tots
For n = 1 To tot
If Sheet1.Range("B" & m).Value = Sheet1.Range("A" & n).Value Then
Sheet1.Range("D" & m).Value = n
End If
Next
Next
For o = 1 To tots
For p = 1 To tot
If Sheet1.Range("B" & o).Value = Sheet1.Range("A" & p).Value Then
Sheet1.Range("C" & o).Value = p
p = tot
End If
Next
Next
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
How to use the code? (In case you are new to macro)
Open a new excel file
Press Alt + F11
Insert a new module
Paste the code into the module
Go back to the excel sheet and add a button
Assign the macro ‘FindNumbers’ to the button
Save excel in .xlsm format if you are using excel 2007 or 2010
Help
Column A: Enter your data in column A and click the button or run the macro
Press the button or run the macro
Your result will be like this
Column B: Numbers that are unique in the data entered in Column A
Column C: First occurrence of data
Column D: Last occurrence of data