Try this:

=AND(A1=MAX($A1:$H1),COUNTIF($A1:A1,A1)=1)

This will highlight only the first instance of MAX.

Biff

"ellebelle" wrote in message
...
if there are two cells containing the same value this formula highlights
the
second. Is there a formula to highlight the first instance of the highest
value?

"Ken Wright" wrote:

Select A1:H1 and use =A1=MAX($A$1:$H$1) then set your formats

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
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"QPapillon" wrote in message
...
Hi - I'm trying to use conditional format to highlight the highest
number
in
a row of numbers derived from a formula. I tried MAX (a1:h1) but it
highlighted all the numbers.

What am I doing wrong?