A macro would do it, but to use formulas, you can follow these
instructuions.

Insert two columns at column C, so that your original data in column C is
moved to column E. Then, in the new cell C1, use the formula

=IF(ISERROR(MATCH(ROW(),D:D,FALSE)),"",INDEX(E:E,M ATCH(ROW(),D:D,FALSE)))

and in cell D1, use the formula

=IF(SUMPRODUCT(EXACT($A$1:$A$100,E1)*1)1,"There are " &
SUMPRODUCT(EXACT($A$1:$A$100,E1)*1) & " EXACT matches for " & E1,
SUMPRODUCT(EXACT($A$1:$A$100,E1)*ROW($A$1:$A$100)) )

Increas the row of the $A$100s to reflect your list in column A.

Then copy C1 down to match your list in column A, and copy D1 down to match
your list in column E.

Then copy column C and past special values, and get rid of columns D and E.

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"soilcon1" wrote in message
...
I am using the EXACT function in column B to compare if information in
column
A is the same as column C on a spreadsheet. If it is not, I am inserting
cells above all the data in column C until I find a match with column A.
What is happening is that the EXACT function seems to stay fixed with it's
original cell in column C. Example:

A1=apple, C1=orange, B1=EXACT(A1,C1) results in FALSE

But, A2=orange and C1=orange, so I insert a cell above the cell in C so
that
it becomes C2. So now:

A2=orange and C2=orange. But the EXACT function in column B in row 2 now
says:

B2=EXACT(A2,C3). C3=banna, so the result if False.

I want the function to remain B2=EXACT(A2,C2), NOT change to C3.

When more data is entered into the rows A and C later, I need to be able
to
fill the EXACT formula down, so I don't think I can use $. I don't want
to
enter the function individually into each cell in column B.

Any ideas?