I have an excel spreadsheet that serves as staff schedule for 14 staff. I
have a data validation list that restricts duplicate entries on the list by
highlighting both cells with red formatting. However, I need an additional
validation rule so that if any staff is scheduled on vacation or meeting, we
are prevented from assigning that person to any type of assignment. In my
sample, the red formatting is what I'm trying to achieve for each 2nd staff
call entry, I'd like that cell to format red if meeting or vacation is
entered in staff call entry #1. To make matters even worse, there are five
different names for the vacation entries, vac-1, vac-2, etc. and four names
for meeting, mtg-1, mtg-2, etc. Any tips, guidance, resources for how to
program would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

If you mean Conditional Formatting if either "mtg-?" or "vac-?" is entered in
the cell above, try this:

Formula is: =OR(LEFT(A1,3)="mtg",LEFT(A1,3)="vac")

Copy it down as many rows as you want.

Regards,
GS

Thanks - it works. I can complete the assignment and stop stressing.

"GS" wrote:

If you mean Conditional Formatting if either "mtg-?" or "vac-?" is entered in
the cell above, try this:

Formula is: =OR(LEFT(A1,3)="mtg",LEFT(A1,3)="vac")

Copy it down as many rows as you want.

Regards,
GS