Conditional Formatting Merged Cells
 

I would like to highlight each cell if there is any text E2 through U2; I am
using conditional formatting. (The problem is that I had to select a special
charater in order for the conditional formatting to recognize; ie. =E2"* ".
Is there a way that it will recognize any type of text w/o being specific?

Once all my cells E2:U2 are highlighted than I would like A1 to say full; I
tryed an if function, however, it was extremely long. Is there a shorter
formula? =IF(AND(E5"* ",F5"* ",G5"* ",H5"* ",I5"* ",J5"* ",K5"*
",L5"* ",M5"* ",N5"* ",O5"* ",P5"* ",Q5"* ",R5"* ",S5"* ",T5"*
",U5"* "),"Full","")

Another problem I have not overcome is that if I use Merge Cells in the cell
range e2:u2 than the If Function in A1 doesn't recognize the unused cells.

I appreciate any help. I am so frustrated because this should be rather
simple and I am making it complicated!!! (I am no good at Macros!!! Can I
do this???)