Conditional formatting with AND and OR in same formula

For a report I run where I am looking for missing/inaccurate information entered into our database, I have a column that has “Decision”. There are two additional columns that affect whether or not there should be a date in this column. If the text in the cell of the specific row under the "Method" column is either “Paper” or “Online” AND if the text in the cell of the same row under the "Status" column is either “Approved” or “Active” AND the date in the cell of the same row under the "Decision" column is blank, the cell should be highlighted. I think the formula needs to be something like this: if (column A has either “Paper” OR “Online”) AND (if column B has either “Approved” or “Active” status) AND (if column C is blank), then it highlights the cell.

I tried this and it’s not working:

=AND(OR($AB2="Paper Contracting",$AB2="Online Contracting"),OR($S2="Approved",$S2="Active with Application"),$V2="")

Please help!

I checked the columns and text and it is correct (didn't give whole text in my paragraph). I don't have anything highlighted b/c the data is correct, but when I change the status from "Pending" to "Approved" in a row where the contracting method is "Paper Contracting", and the Decision from Carrier is blank, it doesn't highlight the field. I've tried it also where the status is Approved, but the method was not "Paper Contracting" or "Online Contracting" and it's not highlighting the cell in that case either.

Try

=AND(OR($AB2="Paper Contracting",$AB2="Online Contracting"),OR($S2="Approved",$S2="Active with Application"),NOT(ISNUMBER($V2)))

You will get an invalid result if V2 is space rather than null.

If V2 was null (i.e., if I "Clear Contents") then formula works OK.

hmm, not able to get that to work. In one row, I have "Pending" for the status in column S, "Paper Contracting" for the method in column AB and the decision field is blank. When I change the "Pending" to "Approved", it doesn't highlight the cell even though it should since the appointment is approved and it was Paper Contracting. Make sense?

I have just repeated your test and it works OK for me. I tried various combinations before posting my formula and all worked.

Put the formula in a cell and check the TRUE/FALSE conditions that result when you change the various parameters.

I suggest you post a sample file and I'll look at ASAP tomorrow but logging off now as it late here in the UK.

That worked! Not sure what was going wrong, but did what you said and it worked. Thanks so much!

Good news and thank you for the feedback.