Highlighting cell if content is duplicate

[excelstart]

Hi,

I am compiling a list with 3 columns and unlimited rows.

I need to avoid duplicate content by highlighting a cell in red if the cell content is contained in any of the cells in its respective column.

I have been trying with the if statement doing something like:

if:Ax=A1:Ax-1

I am not sure if the above synthax is correct, and how to highlight the cell in red if the condition is true. Cell contents can be both numbers and letters (spaces are allowed).

Can you help?

JP

[Bob Phillips]

Using conditional formatting, try a formula of

=COUNTIF(A:A,A1)>1

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

"excelstart" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
>
> Hi,
>
> I am compiling a list with 3 columns and unlimited rows.
>
> I need to avoid duplicate content by highlighting a cell in red if the
> cell content is contained in any of the cells in its respective
> column.
>
> I have been trying with the if statement doing something like:
>
> if:Ax=A1:Ax-1
>
> I am not sure if the above synthax is correct, and how to highlight the
> cell in red if the condition is true. Cell contents can be both numbers
> and letters (spaces are allowed).
>
> Can you help?
>
> JP
>
>
> --
> excelstart
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[excelstart]

The formula below gives an invalid loop, could you put me a bit more in the right direction? Also do you know how to highlight the cell in red background if the condition holds true?

JP