Custom Highlighting Macro

[petegrant89]

Hello,

I have a spreadsheet with a long list of portfolios, most containing multiple rows with the same portfolio name. I need to highlight every other portfolio grouping an alternating color.

For instance, If I have as follows:

Portfolio1
Portfolio1
Portfolio1
Portfolio1
Portfolio2
Portfolio2
Portfolio3
Portfolio3
Portfolio3
Portfolio3
Portfolio4

I need portfolio 1's entire row to highlight blue, Portfolio 2's entire row to stay white, Portfolio 3's entire row to highlight blue, and Portfolio 4's entire row to stay white; and so on and so forth for the entire document.

I haven't the slightest idea how to start this one, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Joe4]

One way is to use a "helper" column and use conditional formatting.

For example, let's say that your data begins in A1.
In cell B1, enter "1" (without the quotes).
Then in cell B2, enter this formula (which is essentially a cumulative group counter):
=IF(A2=A1,B1,B1+1)
Copy that formula down column B for all rows.

Now, highlight your whole data range, select Conditional Formula and use this formula:
=MOD($A1,2)=1
and select the blue color fill formatting option.

That should do what you want!