Need help with a formula in conditional formatting

[DeanStor]

I am looking at getting some help.
I have a spreadsheet, with items in it.
I need to write a formula in the conditional formatting, new rule section.

How do you instruct excel to automatically recognise specific words out of a linked list once any of them have been entered more than once, when input into the spreadsheet and upon recognition highlight specified words into a colour.

Thanks

DS

 

[etaf]

recognise specific words out of a linked list once any of them have been entered more than once,

countif() >1
where the range is your list of words and criteria is the first cell in the range

assuming your list is in Column D
and you enter in column A starting at A1
select A
conditional formatting rule

=Countif($D:$D, A1 ) > 1

 

[DeanStor]

Thanks a lot,

I've tried that formula, It comes up with False.
It doesn't recognise that all 3 of the words selected are in the spreadsheet?
Could this be as I am using Data Validation with Shrinking List and drop downs list??

I can format individuals data but not multiply.

DS

 

[etaf]

can you give some examples

 

[DeanStor]

Thanks.
I'm sure it can be done, as I've seen similar done before.

Spreadsheet came from;
https://people.highline.edu/mgirvin/excelisfun.htm
241,

I have used this formula and edited it to create 5 columns to be selected from as per below.


I am using it to create a menu for my non skilled staff, I have done it this way so that they can't stick the same items on 3 days in a row. However I need it to highlight for instance if they have chosen more than 2 pre-fried products. as in my menu below (Fish, chips & wedges) by the schools food laws they are only allowed 2.

I have got this part of it working so the choices in the drop down boxes disappeared as and when they chose them, but they won't highlight for me.

Week 1	Meat & Fish Main	Vegetarian Main	Starchy Carb	Vegetables	Dessert
Monday	Chicken Pie	Cheese & Tomato Pizza	Chips	Swede & Carrots	Lemon Sponge with Custard
Tuesday	Salmon Pie	Vegtable & Lentil Curry	Drizzled Garlic Slice	Savoy Cabbage	Cinnamon Rice Pudding
Wednesday	Chicken & Mushroom Risotto	Veggie Sausages	New Potatoes
Thursday	Meatballs in Tomato Sauce	Root Veg Cottage Pie	Penne Pasta
Friday	Battered Fish		Baked Wedges

<colgroup><col><col span="5"></colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

Thanks again Dean...

 

[etaf]

sorry dont fully understand
as in my menu below (Fish, chips & wedges)
which day is that ?

How does excel know which are fried items ? would need a lookup table or something to tell it that this item is fried
Are baked wedges considered Fried

so you want to highlight when 2 fried items are chosen on same day and if 3 of the same item are in 3 consecutive days