Conditional Formatting Formula Based on Text in Previous Cell

Hi everyone, need your help!

I've been trying to figure out how to recreate a formula I previously used on a spreadsheet for logging client meetings at my last firm. In that spreadsheet, I would first list the name of the firm, then in the next column the city, the next the contact person, and so on. I would have multiple entries for one firm so, it was convenient to use a conditional formatting formula that would essentially "white out" the repeating text like name, city, contact person if this was another entry for the same client below the original entry for the client. What I can't, for some reason, remember how to do is how to set up this formula that allows me to format a cell based on whether or not the text in the cell matches the text in the cell above.

If anyone has any advice, it would save me many more hours trying to figure this out!

Does your data start on row 2, with headings in row 1? If so, you can select the data from A2 downwards and across as necessary, then click on Conditional Formatting | New Rule | Use a formula... , then put this formula in the dialogue box:

=A1=A2

Click on the Format button and choose a white foreground, then click OK twice to exit the dialogue box.

Hope this helps.

Pete

Thanks Pete, but I think this only works if I have numerical values as data, instead of text. It doesn't seem to work if I'm only referring to cells with text :/

It should apply for text as well.

It would help if you attached a sample Excel workbook.

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Hope this helps.

Pete

It works now! Thank you so much!

Glad to hear it.

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Pete