Highlight overlapping date ranges using conditional formatting
The image above demonstrates a conditional formatting formula that colors a record if there is at least one record that overlaps.
The first and fourth record are highlighted because the date ranges overlap. 1/4/2010 - 1/8/2010 overlaps with 1/7/2010 - 1/9/2010.
Here are the steps needed to create a conditional formatting formula
- Select cell range B6:D12.
- Press with left mouse button on "Home" tab.
- Press with left mouse button on "Conditional Formatting" button.
- Press with left mouse button on "New Rule..".
- Press with left mouse button on "Use a formula to determine which cells to format".
- Type =SUMPRODUCT(($C6<=$D$6:$D$12)*($D6>=$C$6:$C$12))>1 in "Format values where this formula is TRUE" window.
- Press with left mouse button on "Format.." button.
- Press with left mouse button on "Fill" tab.
- Pick a color. This color is used to highlight records that overlap.
- Press with left mouse button on "OK".
- Press with left mouse button on "OK".
- Press with left mouse button on "OK".
Explaining conditional formatting formula
=SUMPRODUCT(($C6<=$D$6:$D$12)*($D6>=$C$6:$C$12))>1
Step 1 - Filter records where ($C6<=$D$6:$D$12) is TRUE
$C6<=$D$6:$D$12 returns an array of TRUE and/or FALSE if date in cell C6 is smaller or equal to each date in $D$6:$D$12.
All dates in$D$6:$D$12 are larger than $C6 so the returning array is (TRUE, TRUE, TRUE,TRUE, TRUE, TRUE,TRUE)
Step 2 - Filter records where ($D6>=$C$6:$C$12) is TRUE
($D6>=$C$6:$C$12) returns an array of TRUE and/or FALSE if date in cell D6 is bigger or equal to each date in $C$6:$C$12.
The returning array is (TRUE, FALSE, FALSE,TRUE, FALSE, FALSE,FALSE)
Step 3 -Â Putting it all together
($C6<=$D$6:$D$12)* ($D6>=$C$6:$C$12)) returns the following array (1,0,0,1,0,0,0).
That means array number one and four is overlapping C6:D6) but in this case we just want to know if any date range is overlapping.
=SUMPRODUCT(($C6<=$D$6:$D$12)*($D6>=$C$6:$C$12)) sums the array (1,0,0,1,0,0,0) and returns 2.
If the formula returns a number bigger than one there is at least one overlapping date range.
=SUMPRODUCT(($C6<=$D$6:$D$12)*($D6>=$C$6:$C$12))>1 returns TRUE or FALSE.
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