Compare two columns and highlight differences
A conditional formatting formula highlights values that only exist in one column. Example, BB and GG exist only in column B.
How to highlight values
- Select cell range B3:B7
- Go to tab "Home" on the ribbon if you are not there already
- Click on Conditional Formatting button
- Click on "New Rule..."
- Click on "Use a formula to determine which cells to format"
- Type: =AND($D$3:$D$7<>B3)
- Click on "Format..." button
- Click on "Fill" tab.
- Pick a color
- Click OK
- Click OK
Repeat above steps with column D, the formula is =AND($B$3:$B$7<>D3)
Explaining conditional formatting formula
AND($D$3:$D$7<>B3)
The less than and greater than signs combined means not equal to. The value in cell B3 is compared to values in cell range $D$3:$D$7.
$D$3:$D$7<>B3 is the same as $D$3<>B3, $D$4<>B3, $D$5<>B3, $D$6<>B3 and $D$7<>B3.
The logical expression returns this array {TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE}.
AND($D$3:$D$7<>B3) becomes AND({TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE; TRUE}) and returns TRUE. Cell B3 is highlighted.
Download Excel *.xlsx
Compare two columns and highlight differences.xlsx
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