Conditional Formatting - updated.

**Barking_Mad** · 10-01-2013, 05:02 AM

Hi,

I have a spreadsheet as below:

If the letters in column A matches the cells in the horizontal rows the cell is left blank. If they don't match then an 'n' is used.

I can do this in each cell using the formula: =IF(A2<>B2,"N","") but i cant seem to get it to work in conditional formatting. Can anyone help?

Any help appreciated - improved attachment at request of moderator

Book4.xlsx

Edit: File attached to show how it should look.

**Motu040602** · 10-01-2013, 06:18 AM

While in Cell B2 go into conditional formatting and select "Use a formula to detemine which cells to format"

In the formula bar put "=b$1<>$a2" then select your formatting.

I just used it and it worked. I hope this helps!

**Barking_Mad** · 10-01-2013, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by Motu040602

While in Cell B2 go into conditional formatting and select "Use a formula to detemine which cells to format"

In the formula bar put "=b$1<>$a2" then select your formatting.

I just used it and it worked. I hope this helps!

Is that going to put N in the cell if they dont match? Sorry, being a bit thick today!

**Motu040602** · 10-01-2013, 06:57 AM

Sorry I understand now. You want the conditional formatting to be the text! I don't know of any way to do that.

**Barking_Mad** · 10-01-2013, 10:53 AM

Yes,

=IF(A2<>B2,"N","")

will do it, but i dont want the formula in the cell as it will get delete/changed.

Essentially i want a formula that does a similar job, but for conditional formatting.

**Motu040602** · 10-01-2013, 05:33 PM

Can you lock the cells so the formula won't be delete/changed?

**newdoverman** · 10-02-2013, 10:33 AM

Take a look at the conditional formatting. I filled the area starting with the first row where A appears with n then used the conditional formatting to change the colour of the n where there was a match to the background colour thereby making it appear to not be there.