select A1:A1000 with A1 as the active cell

do format=Conditional Formatting

change cell value is to Formula is

Enter this formula

=COUNTIF($A$1:$A$1000,LEFT(A1,4)&"*")1

click the format button and select the shading.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy


"JB2005" wrote in message
...
I wish to conditionally format a range (say A1:A1000) with the following
criteria;

For each cell in the range(A1:A1000), how many of the other cells in that
same range, share the first 4 characters - if greater than 1; format.....,
etc.?

I looked at the countif function, but couldn't find a way to apply it and
I'm stuck for alternatives.....

Any bright ideas?