Excel permutations without repetition from values

Question

What I have in Excel document:

A     B    
Abc   12:34
Def   56:78
Ghi   90:12
Jkl   34:56
...

What I want to achieve with those values:

C    D      E    F
Abc  12:34  Def  56:78
Abc  12:34  Ghi  90:12
Abc  12:34  Jkl  34:56
Def  56:78  Ghi  90:12
Def  56:78  Jkl  34:56
Ghi  90:12  Jkl  34:56
...

Explanation:

Columns A and B can contain any combination of text and numbers (if that is important at all), this example only displays the most common structure. It should create combinations only for rows "on the way down", i. e. "Abc...Def..." is enough, there shouldn't be "Def...Abc...".

There are many examples around, but I am struggling to find a version of such VBA that works with multiple columns and doesn't repeat combinations.

Here is one example that is simple. But, it's for only one column and it also repeats values:

http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/412952-create-list-all-pair-combinations.html#post2046893

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Given what we discussed in the conversation, here's a solution in VBA:

Sub CreatePermutation()

Dim FirstCell As Integer
Dim SecondCell As Integer
Dim NumRows As Integer
Dim OutputRow As Long

    ' Get the total number of rows in column A
    NumRows = Cells(ActiveSheet.Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row()

    ' You want to start outputting in row 1
    OutputRow = 1

    For FirstCell = 1 To NumRows - 1
        For SecondCell = FirstCell + 1 To NumRows

            ' Put in the data from the first cell into columnc C & D
            Cells(OutputRow, 3).Value = Cells(FirstCell, 1).Value
            Cells(OutputRow, 4).Value = Cells(FirstCell, 2).Value

            ' Put in the data from the second cell into column E & F
            Cells(OutputRow, 5).Value = Cells(SecondCell, 1).Value
            Cells(OutputRow, 6).Value = Cells(SecondCell, 2).Value

            ' Move to the next row to output
            OutputRow = OutputRow + 1

        Next SecondCell
    Next FirstCell
End Sub

Hope this accomplishes what you're looking to do.