Pulling filled data from 2 columns

[Robot1]

So I have a data set that has formulas to calculate the same data based on different criteria. I have this data in two different columns. I want to combine the columns into one new with all the populated data. If the data is different, I need to error or identify this difference.

Column A	Column B	Column C
CC		CC
COD		COD
	COD	COD
Terms	terms	Terms
Terms	COD	ERROR

 

[Joe4]

Place this formula in cell C2 and copy down:

=IF(COUNTA(A2:B2)=1,A2&B2,IF(A2=B2,A2,"ERROR"))

Results:

 

[Robot1]

It sort of works but it is giving me a "ERROR" for everything

 

[Joe4]

It sort of works but it is giving me a "ERROR" for everything

A few possible causes:

- You do not have the formula aligned to the correct rows (i.e. formula on row 3 looking at entries in row 2)

- You "blank" cells really are not blank. Maybe there is a space or something in them. Verify that they really are blank.
That can be done with the LEN function, i.e. if cell B4 looks blank, then if you enter the formula =LEN(B4) in any blank cell and see what it returns.
If it returns any number greater than 0, your cell is NOT blank.

- Your values really aren't equal.
Pick an example of one that looks equal. Let's say it is row 5.
Then enter this formula in any blank cell: =A5=B5
If it does NOT return TRUE, then those two cells really are not equal. Check for extra spaces or other characters.

Note if this data came from the web or some other program, the last two issues listed above are VERY common for that type of data, and your data requires a little "scrubbing/cleaning" first before you can get good results from it.