Conditional Formatting En Masse via Formulas

[Aimee S.]

Hey folks.

I have to sheets. They are formatted and organized exactly the same, with various value differences only.

For each cell (there are over 3,000) I have been adding one by one conditional formatting such that if D4 of the first sheet does NOT equal D4 of the second sheet, make the font bold and underlined for D4 in the first sheet.

The next cell would be the same deal: if 'First Sheet'!E4<>'Second Sheet'!E4, then format 'First Sheet'!E4 and so on.

The full range of cells on each sheet is D4:BQ47 (2,904 cells)

PLEASE tell me there's an easier way to do this as long as the sheets match up exactly layout wise!!!

It should be pointed out that there are already formulas producing the data in each of these 2,904 cells, so that is why I turned to the conditional formatting tool and did not opt for writing format formulas.

 

[Aimee S.]

Ahh nevermind. I figured out how. Have to remove the dollar signs in the formula the right way and I can copy format paste to the rest of the sheet

 

[p45cal]

Select the whole range D4:BQ47, selecting by starting top left D4. This means that D4 is the active cell. Go into CF and in the Use Formula option (Formula Is: in pre Excel 2007) and use:
First Sheet'!D4<>'Second Sheet'!D4
making sure ther are NO $ symbols. Choose your fromat. OK.
QED

 

[Aimee S.]

I tried your method word for word and it didn't take.

 

[Aimee S.]

Gah. Nevermind. I misread your instruction. It works fine now!! THANK YOU!!!!