Using Excel 2007 I have a spreadsheet in which I enter report data. Each row
added is a new line of data.

In order to validate data entry I am attempting to use conditional
formatting to compare data entered into a cell with the cell above it and
other fixed data. Entering the first cell works fine.

The problem occurs when I use the format painter to copy the conditional
format to other cells in the column or the whole column. This format
painting operation does not seem to obey the long-standing laws of Excel
copying with regard to $ symbol to maintain cell references or not. As well
as this' fault', additional conditional formatting lines are added for no
apparent reason. The same faults apply when working across the row.

If I select a whole column and apply conditional formatting it works fine,
but I used to be able to do this with format painter in 2003.

Can anyone make sense of this and help?