Alternative to Conditional Formatting

[thommo14]

G'day

I have been using Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cell Rules to highlight unique names when comparing two columns. The two columns represents current employees vs previous employees. The amount of data in these columns is huge.

I have run into an issue where there are people on the lists with the same name, so this won't be highlighted. Is there an option to compare columns row by row and have the unique entries highlighted?

Apologies if I haven't made clear what I'm attempting to achieve.

 

[Joe4]

You are right, it isn't quite clear. If they have the same name, they shouldn't be highlighted, according to your unique rules requirement.
I do not understand the logic/circumstances under which certain duplicates should be highlighted.

Can you post some sample data to show us BOTH situations, and based on the logic, explain exactly how we can determine the difference from the data posted?

MrExcel has a tool called “XL2BB” that lets you post samples of your data that will allow us to copy/paste it to our Excel spreadsheets, so we can work with the same copy of data that you are. Instructions on using this tool can be found here: XL2BB Add-in

Note that there is also a "Test Here” forum on this board. This is a place where you can test using this tool (or any other posting techniques that you want to test) before trying to use those tools in your actual posts.

 

[thommo14]

Thanks for the reply. I will try to simplify:

I want to compare each row in two columns and have the unique data highlighted.

 

[Joe4]

I suggest that you update your Account details (or click your user name at the top right of the forum) so helpers always know what Excel version(s) & platform(s) you are using as the best solution often varies by version. (Don’t forget to scroll down & ‘Save’). The newer version of Excel have a COUNTIFS function that could be used here, depending on which version of Excel you have.

 

[Joe4]

Here is an example using COUNTIFS in a Conditional Formatting formula:

I selected the range A2:B7, and then used this Conditional Formatting formula:

=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$7,$A2,$B$2:$B$7,$B2)=1

and chose the yellow highlighting option.

 

[thommo14]

Thank you. I will give that a shot.