Are you working with multiple worksheets and need to find duplicate values? Conditional formatting is a great tool to use for this task in Excel. In this article, we’ll explore how to use conditional formatting to compare two Excel files for duplicates.
Let’s start with a quick review of how to find duplicate values on the same worksheet. First, select the range of cells you want to include in the comparison. Then, go to the Home tab and select Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Duplicate Values. This will highlight any cells with duplicate values.
But what if you want to compare two worksheets for duplicates? Here’s how to do it:
1. Select the range of cells you want to compare on the first worksheet.
2. Go to Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
3. Select “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”
4. In the formula bar, type “=COUNTIF(Sheet2!$A$2:$A$8,A2)>0” (replace “Sheet2” with the name of your second worksheet and “A2:A8” with the range of cells you want to compare on the second worksheet).
5. Click “Format” and choose your preferred formatting options.
6. Click “OK” to apply the conditional formatting.
This formula uses the COUNTIF function to check how many times a value appears in the range of cells on the second worksheet. If the count is greater than zero, it means the value is a duplicate.
Once you’ve applied the conditional formatting, any duplicate values will be highlighted. You can then easily see which values are duplicated across the two worksheets.
In conclusion, comparing two Excel files for duplicates is easy with conditional formatting. Whether you’re working on the same worksheet or across multiple worksheets, this tool is an efficient way to find duplicate values and keep your data accurate.