Conditional formatting using values in two columns

SandraW

New Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
4
Using Excel 2013
I have two columns in my spreadsheet (E,F) that contain H,M or L. I want to highlight both columns depending on the combination of values. . At the moment, I am trying to highlight both columns as Amber if either of the columns contains "H".
The first two columns in the table below show the value in my sheet.
Column 3 shows the result using the formula =($E2="H")+($F2="H")>0 :X=Highlighted
I get the same results for =OR(($E2="H"),($F2="H"))
If I paste the formulae into the spreadsheet I get "True" and "False" as expected - so I haven't got anything strange in columns E and F

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong and/or suggest a way to get the highlighting I want? I'm rapidly losing my mind.
H
H
X
H
M
X
H
L
X
M
H
M
M
M
L
X
L
H
L
M
L
L

<tbody>
</tbody>
 

Excel Facts

Copy a format multiple times
Select a formatted range. Double-click the Format Painter (left side of Home tab). You can paste formatting multiple times. Esc to stop
Hi.
Try:
1. select the range with data, e.g., E2:F10
2. into the CF dialog box / Use a formula... / paste =OR($E2="H",$F2="H")
3. format as desired
 
Upvote 0
Hi Claudio,
=AND($E2="H",$F2="H") does work (I'm using it to highlight the high priority rows) - but I'm looking for an OR formula
 
Upvote 0
Hi Osvaldo,
knowing the quirkiness of Excel, I deleted the brackets around the conditions as you suggested, but unfortunately it made no difference - "M, L" is still highlighting as though it were true, and "L,H" as though it were false.
 
Upvote 0
Doh! - finally realised that I am using E2, F2 in my formula rather than E1, F1, even though I am applying this to the whole column - that means that the formula is highlighting each row according to the values in the next row. Apologies to everyone.
 
Upvote 0

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