Need help with a formula in conditional formatting

[DeanStor]

I am looking at getting some help.
I have a spreadsheet, with items in it.
I need to write a formula in the conditional formatting, new rule section.

How do you instruct excel to automatically recognise specific words out of a linked list once any of them have been entered more than once, when input into the spreadsheet and upon recognition highlight specified words into a colour.

Thanks

DS

 

[etaf]

recognise specific words out of a linked list once any of them have been entered more than once,

countif() >1
where the range is your list of words and criteria is the first cell in the range

assuming your list is in Column D
and you enter in column A starting at A1
select A
conditional formatting rule

=Countif($D:$D, A1 ) > 1

 

[DeanStor]

Thanks a lot,

I've tried that formula, It comes up with False.
It doesn't recognise that all 3 of the words selected are in the spreadsheet?
Could this be as I am using Data Validation with Shrinking List and drop downs list??

I can format individuals data but not multiply.

DS

 

[etaf]

can you give some examples

 

[DeanStor]

Thanks.
I'm sure it can be done, as I've seen similar done before.

Spreadsheet came from;
https://people.highline.edu/mgirvin/excelisfun.htm
241,

I have used this formula and edited it to create 5 columns to be selected from as per below.


I am using it to create a menu for my non skilled staff, I have done it this way so that they can't stick the same items on 3 days in a row. However I need it to highlight for instance if they have chosen more than 2 pre-fried products. as in my menu below (Fish, chips & wedges) by the schools food laws they are only allowed 2.

I have got this part of it working so the choices in the drop down boxes disappeared as and when they chose them, but they won't highlight for me.[TABLE="width: 1222"]
<colgroup><col><col span="5"></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Week 1[/TD]
[TD]Meat & Fish Main [/TD]
[TD]Vegetarian Main[/TD]
[TD]Starchy Carb[/TD]
[TD]Vegetables[/TD]
[TD]Dessert[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Monday[/TD]
[TD]Chicken Pie[/TD]
[TD]Cheese & Tomato Pizza[/TD]
[TD]Chips[/TD]
[TD]Swede & Carrots[/TD]
[TD]Lemon Sponge with Custard[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tuesday[/TD]
[TD]Salmon Pie[/TD]
[TD]Vegtable & Lentil Curry[/TD]
[TD]Drizzled Garlic Slice[/TD]
[TD]Savoy Cabbage[/TD]
[TD]Cinnamon Rice Pudding[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wednesday[/TD]
[TD]Chicken & Mushroom Risotto[/TD]
[TD]Veggie Sausages[/TD]
[TD]New Potatoes[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Thursday[/TD]
[TD]Meatballs in Tomato Sauce[/TD]
[TD]Root Veg Cottage Pie[/TD]
[TD]Penne Pasta[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Friday[/TD]
[TD]Battered Fish[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]Baked Wedges[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Thanks again Dean...

 

[etaf]

sorry dont fully understand
as in my menu below (Fish, chips & wedges)
which day is that ?

How does excel know which are fried items ? would need a lookup table or something to tell it that this item is fried
Are baked wedges considered Fried

so you want to highlight when 2 fried items are chosen on same day and if 3 of the same item are in 3 consecutive days