Hello,
Sorry for having a question that has no doubt been asked a hundred times, but I am very frustrated because none of the formulas that I try work. I always get an error pop up.
My situation is this: I am looking for a fast and simple way of comparing two lists of names to see if any of the names from List 1 are in List 2. If yes, then I would like those names that are in both to be highlighted, or have an 'X' in an extra column, or something to make them easily visible.
I have tried doing them in the same sheet with List 1 in column A, and List 2 in column B. I have also tried having each List in column A of separate sheets (List1 in Sheet1, and List 2 in Sheet2).
The problem I keep having is that the formulas that I find online through message boards/Q&A pages similar to this one, never work. When I type them into the formula bar and hit enter, I get a pop up that says 'the formula you have typed contains an error' and it will highlight a part of the formula. I can never understand why it is wrong because the formula works for other people and doesnt contain any weird characters.
Here is example: I had put Name List 1 on Sheet1 (column A), and Name List 2 in Sheet2 (column A). I then followed this advice I found:
"I suggest you do this by columns. I will give the example of comparing every cell in col A, Sheet 1 with same cell on sheet 2.
Go to sheet 3 and write the following formula in A1:
=IF(Sheet1!A1<>Sheet2!A1,Sheet1!A1,"")
now (on sheet 3) in B1 write:
=IF(Sheet1!A1<>Sheet2!A1,Sheet2!A1,"")
Now highlight col A & B starting at A1 and B1 and highlight as far down the two cols as you want. Then do a FILL / DOWN.
If there is no diff between sheet 1 A1 and Sheet 2 A1 the cells in sht 3 A1 & B1 will be blank. If there is a diff then sht3 A1 & B1 will show that diff."
The first formula listed went into the formula bar fine, but the second didn't work. I do not know why.
Can someone please help me? I know this kind of thing is really simple and there is a quick, dirty and plain old obvious way of doing it I just cannot figure out how. It is really frustrating. If someone has any simple formula I would really appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and for reading this long post.
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