FORMULA OR CONDITIONAL FORMATTING ? TO FIND INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN COLUMNS

[JuicyMusic]

Hello, I have tried but my formula is not always working. Please assist.

I have an export from a time and attendance system.

COLUMN B: This is the system generated voucher number and it is always 4 digits.
COLUMN C: This is the DATE that an employee punch in their START and END time repairing a piece of equipment....

Each system generated voucher number will always have 3 rows. I would like a formula to alert me that there is a row of data to research.
The dates in Column C should be the same for all 3 rows. If there are 2 or 3 different dates for one voucher number - than it will have to be researched.

I would prefer a formula with the text "research" in it instead of a conditional formatting - so that I can filter for the formula column for the word "research".

I've uploaded a snapshot of my data set. I'm not allowed to install anything here so I can't use XL2BB, sorry. Thank you so much!

 

[Fluff]

How about

=IF(ROWS(UNIQUE(FILTER($B$2:$B$1000,$A$2:$A$1000=A2)))>1,"Research","")

 

[JuicyMusic]

SOLVED! AGAIN!.... Fluff, could you explain something to me please? My question is regarding the order of the formula.

You have ROWS then UNIQUE then FILTER. Could you explain the logic of how you wrote this formula. What is the rule that you followed so I can understand more.

Thanks!

 

[Fluff]

First it filters col B to return only those values where col A matches A2
Then it removes all duplicates leaving just the distinct values
Then the Rows function returns how many values are left are the filter & unique functions have done their job.

 

[JuicyMusic]

Thank you so much!

 

[Fluff]

My pleasure.

 

[JuicyMusic]

Hi, I read thru the formula again. It's ROWS, then UNIQUE, then FILTER but you explained it in the reverse.
Thank you....I'll have to talk it out several times then I do get it. Have a nice day!

 

[Fluff]

The inner most function calculates first. If you use the evaluate formula button on the formula tab, you can see what is happening.