Have a spreadsheet with a column for Social Security #.The
person entering the data sometimes repeats the information
(Eg. Social Security # ). Being this is a lengthly
spreadsheet, is it possible to enter a formular that would
change the color(pattern)if the number is repeated(Eg
Cells with the repeat numbers the digits would turn red)

Try this examples Fred

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/NoDupEntry.htm
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/duplicat.htm

--
Regards Ron de Bruin
(Win XP Pro SP-1 XL2002 SP-2)
www.rondebruin.nl



"Fred" wrote in message ...
Have a spreadsheet with a column for Social Security #.The
person entering the data sometimes repeats the information
(Eg. Social Security # ). Being this is a lengthly
spreadsheet, is it possible to enter a formular that would
change the color(pattern)if the number is repeated(Eg
Cells with the repeat numbers the digits would turn red)

Fred,
Assumed the column is "F" and F1 has the heading.
select F2:F10000 (F2 should be the active cell)
FormatConditional Formatting
in the Conditional Formatting dialog box
change the "cell value is" to "formula is"
and type the following formula
=COUNTIF($F$2:$F$10000,$F2)1
click Format button and select red form the colour dropdown box
click OK, OK
Cecil
"Fred" wrote in message
...
Have a spreadsheet with a column for Social Security #.The
person entering the data sometimes repeats the information
(Eg. Social Security # ). Being this is a lengthly
spreadsheet, is it possible to enter a formular that would
change the color(pattern)if the number is repeated(Eg
Cells with the repeat numbers the digits would turn red)

also, if you use the formula
=COUNTIF($F$1:$F1,$F1)1
in the first cell and copy down as Cecil says, the first instance won't get
highlighted, just subsequent repetitions.

Just another thought.

--

HTH

Bob Phillips

"Cecilkumara Fernando" wrote in message
...
Fred,
Assumed the column is "F" and F1 has the heading.
select F2:F10000 (F2 should be the active cell)
FormatConditional Formatting
in the Conditional Formatting dialog box
change the "cell value is" to "formula is"
and type the following formula
=COUNTIF($F$2:$F$10000,$F2)1
click Format button and select red form the colour dropdown box
click OK, OK
Cecil
"Fred" wrote in message
...
Have a spreadsheet with a column for Social Security #.The
person entering the data sometimes repeats the information
(Eg. Social Security # ). Being this is a lengthly
spreadsheet, is it possible to enter a formular that would
change the color(pattern)if the number is repeated(Eg
Cells with the repeat numbers the digits would turn red)