Conditonal formatting merged cells

[Penguinhead]

Hi there,

I'm currently brainstorming solutions to the following problem. I wonder if this is possible without using macro code.

I have a spreadsheet similar to the attached example, but much larger. First column contains codes. Adjacent columns contain details relating to that code. When column E requires more than one entry for that code it needs to be entered one entry per row. Column F contains the date that this code is closed out. I need to merge column A for all identical code entries and columnn F as the code will be closed out as a package.

So here's the issue:
I have a conditional format to change the entire row colour once a date is entered to column F - via a "not(isblank)" condition. However, when the rows are merged the only cell detected as containing a date is the first of the merged cells. therefore, colour change does not occur on the additonal row entries for that code number.

Possible solutions I'm considering:
1. Set up a new conditonal format to link the blank cells in column F back to the previous cell that contains the date, via the conection between identical code numbers.

i.e. =OR((NOT(ISBLANK($F2))),AND(ISBLANK($F2),$A1=$A2,NOT(ISBLANK($F1))))

Just a thought: Is there any way to expand this condition to apply to any duplicate code in Column A that contains a date entry in its adjacent F cell??

2. Enable merged cells to retain their cell name after merging.
i.e. merge cells F3:F6 but when highlighted the name of the merged group acknowledges the data inside applies to cells F4,5 & 6 as well as F3.

My overall goal is to make this worksheet as user firendly as possible with as much automation as possible.

Thanks for any help you can provide!