Need an easy solution to comparing two spreadsheets

Hi sbahner,
Welcome to the forum.

Conditional formatting is the easiest way to achieve this.
It would be better if you upload a sample workbook. Make sure there is just enough data to demonstrate your need. Include a BEFORE sheet and an AFTER sheet in the workbook if needed to show the process you're trying to complete or automate. Make sure your desired results are shown, mock them up manually if necessary.

Remember to desensitize the data.

Click on GO ADVANCED and use the paperclip icon to open the upload window.

View Pic

You will need to upload a sample workbook as requested in post#2 to get the proper help.

To apply conditional formatting follow these steps......

Select the range A2:B11 on Sample Sheet One --> Conditional Formatting --> New Rule --> Use a formula to determine which cells to format --> In the formula box below "Format values where this formula is true", paste the formula given below --> Format --> Fill --> Select the color of your choice --> OK --> OK.

The formula used is as below.....

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For detail, see the attached.

Does this help?

BWU Staff testing Report 2015.xls
Well I know I had to edit the numbers in that formula provided to reflect the workbooks I was actually working in, and instead it highlighted all of them. Here is the exact thing I need help with, same desired result as the previous sample.. Thanks for all your help

What excel version you are using. Your profile says 2010 while you uploaded a .xls file.
So if you are using excel 2003, change your formula to this.....

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Where I have defined two named ranges FName and Lname and used them in the formula.

Or if you are using excel 2010, change your formula to this..

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The formula is changed and Trim is used because names on second sheet have some leading spaces.

This formula when entered on the Report worksheet will identify all matching values that are on Sheet1

Formula:

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...confirmed by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to activate the array, not just ENTER. You will know the array is active when you see curly braces { } appear around your formula. If you do not CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER you will get an error or a clearly incorrect answer. Press F2 on that cell and try again.

	A	B	C	D
1	First Name	Last Name
2	Aaron	Hutchison
3	Aaron	Long
4	Abby	Vensel		AbbyVensel
5	Adam	Bailey		AdamBailey
6	Adam	Sheldon
7	Addison	Carbone
8	Aileen	Zietlow
9	Alan	Kolp
10	Alayna	Chlad		AlaynaChlad
11	Alex	Hurd
12	Alex	Turner
13	Alex	Ulle		AlexUlle