Comparing two columns in different sheets with unique identifier

segelson

New Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
7
I am trying to compare two columns in excel with the same unique identifier and highlight the cell if it is different:

[TABLE="width: 484"]
<colgroup><col><col><col><col span="2"><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]Unique[/TD]
[TD]Description[/TD]
[TD]Date[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Unique[/TD]
[TD]Description[/TD]
[TD]Date[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]123[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/1/2018[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]126[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/5/2018[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]124[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/2/2018[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]123[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/2/2018[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]125[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/1/2018[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]124[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/2/2018[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]126[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/5/2018[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]125[/TD]
[TD]Test[/TD]
[TD]10/1/2018[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


In the above example I have 3 columns (Unique, Description, and Date) I am trying to compare the date on two separate sheets and highlight if they are different if the unique identifier matches.
 

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Segelson,
With this example it is easiest to Sort the second data set by ascending order. You can then create a Highlight rule with if statement formula to highlight differing dates. However, this simplistic approach becomes more complex if, say, you have a unique Identifier on the second tab that skips number 124. You would then be left with mismatching "Description Columns" for identifiers 125, 126 etc.
 
Upvote 0
Segelson,
With this example it is easiest to Sort the second data set by ascending order. You can then create a Highlight rule with if statement formula to highlight differing dates. However, this simplistic approach becomes more complex if, say, you have a unique Identifier on the second tab that skips number 124. You would then be left with mismatching "Description Columns" for identifiers 125, 126 etc.


In the worksheets that I am working with there are several thousand unique identifiers, I don't think the sort will work as the unique identifiers are not going to exactly match. (in one worksheet there may be different, or additional numbers)
 
Upvote 0

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