How to compare two columns in excel for duplicates

Now, let's talk about conditional formatting.

Excel match two columns and output third

It's like having a highlighter that automatically marks differences for you. This method is great for quickly spotting differences without adding extra columns or formulas.

Step-by-Step Guide to Conditional Formatting

• Select the range you want to compare.

  For example, if you want to compare columns A and B, select the data in these columns.

• Go to the Home tab and click on Conditional Formatting.
• Choose New Rule.
• Select Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
• Enter the formula:
• Click Format to choose how you want the differences to be highlighted (e.g., with a fill color).
• Press OK to apply the rule.

Now, any differences between the two columns will be highlighted, making them easy to spot.

This method is particularly useful when you're dealing with large datasets.

VLOOKUP is one of those Excel functions that can seem like magic once you understand how it works. It’s particularly useful when comparing two columns where the data isn't lined up perfectly.

Let’s say you have a list of product IDs in colu

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