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How to conditionally format cells using partial text

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    How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    Hi there,

    I want to use the conditionally format tool, specifically the one titled "Use a formula to determine what cells to format".

    I have a list of departments and their locations, i want the conditional format to use the cells in column H based on partial text.

    I currently use the following formula:

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    It works on the cells that only show '50 Martin Place' however i have other cells that actually show 'Level 2, 50 Martin Place' and other floors. I want it to format these cells too, anything that contains '50 Martin Place' in the cell.

    I use this conditional format as it then highlights the cells on either side of column H, this part i can fix up easily, i just don't know how to write the formula correctly, i tried using "*50 Martin Place*" but it didn't work.

    Many thanks

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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    You are just missing a Wild card aka asterisk '*' add that in front to say that your looking for something that ends in a text, Behind it to say it starts with it or in front and behind to say contains this string of characters. That should resolve your issue
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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    Hi ELeGault,

    Thanks for the information but i already mentioned i had done that and it doesn't work. I placed an asterisk one in front, one behind and one in front and behind and none of those options helped.

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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    Try it like this...

    =SEARCH("50 Martin Place",$H1)
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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    The wildcards, * and ?, only work in certain functions. They won't work in a logical expression as you have tried.

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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    Ah right, My apologies, =Countifs($H1,"*51 Martin Place*")>0 completely overlooked that you were doing a straight comparison of texts

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    Re: How to conditionally format cells using partial text

    Yes, COUNTIF(S) are some of the functions that accept wildcards.

    In this application (conditional formatting) you don't need the test for >0.

    =COUNTIF($H1,"*51 Martin Place*")

    In CF, the format will be applied if the formula evaluates to either TRUE or ANY number other than 0.

    COUNTIF will return either a 1 (the cell contains the string) or 0 (the cell does not contain the string). When the formula result = 1 the format will be applied.

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