• Compare 2 columns?

    Author
    Topic
    #351933

    I want to quickly determine if 2 columns of data are identical. Ideally, I’d like to find some way to highlight the cells in the right column that do not match the left column. Is there a way to do this?

    Thanks!
    DeNae

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    Author
    Replies
    • #510582

      If this is a one-time review, take a third column & write the formula =a1=b1 (adjusted for your start position), copy it down, copy over the calculation with paste values, search and replace “TRUE” with nothing, and then inspect every row which says “FALSE”, since it failed to match.

      If you are working on un-rounded formula number results, you may want to use =round(a1,6)=round(b1,6) to ignore insignificant floating point errors.

      For frequent (or more complex) reviews, merge the two columns and use the Data, Filter, Advanced, Tool.

    • #510611

      If you select both columns then:

      Edit -> GoTo -> Special -> Row differences

      Excel will select the different entries in one of the columns depending on which column you selected first (select A-B and and differences will select in B and visa versa)

    • #510693

      Select the second column
      Format/Conditional Formatting
      set it to Value is not equal to address of first cell in first column (no $s)
      Click the format button select the Patterns tab and yellow or something
      click ok

      Example. If the first column is A1 to A24 and the second is B1 to B24 the conditional formatting box should say
      Cell Value is | Not equal to| =A1

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    Reply To: Compare 2 columns?

    You can use BBCodes to format your content.
    Your account can't use all available BBCodes, they will be stripped before saving.

    Your information: