I tried to replicate the top answer provided here by user Dan using the same scenario and formula they provided.
=INDEX($C$2:$C$8,SMALL(IF($B12=$B$2:$B$8,ROW($B$2:$B$8)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$B$8))+1,""),1))
However, when I drag the INDEX array right, I get "Adam" over and over again instead of each unique name.
I found that if I manually change the "k" value at the end of the formula that Dan provided, the formula works and I get the unique names. Example
Cell C12, =INDEX($C$2:$C$8,SMALL(IF($B12=$B$2:$B$8,ROW($B$2:$B$8)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$B$8))+1,""),1))
Cell D12, =INDEX($C$2:$C$8,SMALL(IF($B12=$B$2:$B$8,ROW($B$2:$B$8)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$B$8))+1,""),2))
'Cell E12, =INDEX($C$2:$C$8,SMALL(IF($B12=$B$2:$B$8,ROW($B$2:$B$8)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$B$8))+1,""),3))`
However, this is a rather tedious process and I wish to adapt this formula for a much larger sheet.
My sheet advanced options do have auto increment allowed, as I tested it with simple number series. For example, selecting 1 and dragging right provides a series of numbers increasing by one. I even tried manually setting up C12 and D12, selecting both, and dragging right. However, I simply get repeats of those cells instead of unique names.
Why won't the "k" value increase when I drag it across the sheet? Is there some other issue I'm missing?