how to compare two lists in excel for differences

how to compare two lists in excel for differences

Make sure to remember or note down the name you give to each of your lists here. Method 2 - Using the 'Format Cells that Contain' Option. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Now here we will see the comparison where we will consider a case-sensitive circumstance. In this method, we will apply Conditional Formatting to compare two lists and highlight their differences. Lookup array is the list in which you are looking for a match. We can combine this with an IF statement to return our true and false values. Then select Highlight Cells Rules. You can also select between. Add a conditional column with Table Value 1 = Table Value 2. Very often, the relative position or the #N/A is of no value to us and we need to convert these values into true or false. Again, our dataset will be the same as above. Do you want to start collecting rewards quickly for learning Excel? =INDEX($C$6:$C$12,MATCH($F6,$B$6:$B$12,0)). Select the rule you want to delete and then select Delete Rule. You can also apply any of the following formulas with ISERROR, MATCH, SUM functions: =IF(ISERROR(MATCH($B6,$E$5:$E$16,0)),"No match in Table 2","Match in Table 2"), =IF(SUM(--($E$6:$E$16=$B6))=0, "No match in Table 2", "Match in Table 2"). Power Query: compare two tables, return all differ Power Platform Integration - Better Together! XMATCH (Lookup Value, Lookup Array, [Match Mode],[Search Mode]), Lookup Value is the value you are looking to find the relative position, Lookup Array is the row or column that contains the Lookup Value, Match mode is optional. The result, values that appear in both lists, spills into the range F5:F11. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. On the Start screen, click Spreadsheet Compare. To do so, we can highlight every value in column A and then click the Conditional Formatting button on the Home tab along the top ribbon. This is the keyboard shortcut to convert to a table. In the left pane, choose the options you want to see in the results of the workbook comparison by checking or unchecking the options, such as Formulas, Macros, or Cell Format. Compare two Excel workbooks Click Home > Compare Files. In this video you will learn how to compare or reconcile two different data sets using Excels Power query. Duplicate values are supported. Next select Clear Rules. This will result in all cells that are in both lists being formatted to your chosen format. Strategy 5: Highlight All the Matching Data utilizing Conditional Formatting. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. Depending on this result IF function decides whether to print Yes or No as messages. But comparing two data sets can be a little more difficult. Finally Select Clear Rules from Selected Cells. You can use either of the buttons on the right side of the menu to increase or decrease the displayed precision of the value. You can give the list any name you want. MATCH($F6,$B$6:$B$12,0) this part finds the matched rows by comparing the product names. 9. 3. Maybe your preferred way is not included below. Check out our guide to learn how to do that. The syntax of the function is: IF (logical_condition, [value_if_true], [value_if_false]). 3. 2. Now you are familiar XLOOKUP, which replaces the old VLOOKUP function, you know XLOOKUP comes with additional power. In the previous method, we ignored the case sensitivity issue. In a small dataset, you can try . In Excel 2007 and later versions of Excel, select Fill in the Editing group, and then select Down. The above method highlights items in both your lists. If you want your formula to return the value from the column right next to your first list, type, For example, if your second list starts at B1, and your first list goes from cells A1 to A5, your formula will look like. Then select "Row difference" from the options. 5. So, we can carry out a VLOOKUP and test to see if it returns text. This becomes available only when you have two or more Excel files open. The results of the comparison appear in a two-pane grid. Click the 'Home' tab. Conditional formatting will allow you to highlight a cells or range based on predefined criteria. Quick Conditional Formatting to compare two columns of data, Match data in Excel using the MATCH function, Compare 2 lists in Excel 365 with MATCH or XMATCH as a Dynamic Array function, MATCH and Dynamic arrays to compare 2 lists, Tables Comparing lists in Excel where the ranges sizes might change, Highlight differences in Lists using Custom Conditional Formatting, Copy formula to Custom Conditional Formatting, Other Formulas used to compare two lists in Excel, Comparing lists or datasets using Power Query. Apply the formula in cell G6 and then drag it down for other cells. First, press the "%" button. If the data range is not adjacent, select them by pressing the, But we dont want the similarities, rather we want to find out the differences. While your lists are highlighted, in Excels ribbon at the top, click the Home tab. Select your first list. Well show you how. 2. Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge. Like what you see? Click New Rule. I want to compare these tables and generate a report where the values are different, something like this: In the result, I want one record for each difference. If you have "mission critical" Excel workbooks or Access databases in your organization, consider installing Microsofts spreadsheet and database management tools. In the Format Values Where This Formula is True box, type the following: Select the Format button and specify how youd like to format the missing items in your list. If COUNIF returns zero, we know the item is not in list2. Your job is done. For the second rule, we want to count items in list1. The latest version of the workbook contains the final numbers in the E column for Q4. The include argument is delivered by the COUNTIF function, which is nested inside FILTER: COUNTIF is set up with list2 as range, and list1 as criteria. To compare two columns in Excel row-by-row, write a usual IF formula that compares the first two cells. Come to either of these two files, and here we come to the January file. This article has been viewed 39,797 times. Enter the formula in some other column in the same row, and then copy it down to other cells by dragging the fill handle (a small square in the bottom-right corner of the selected cell). 5. Very often there is a requirement in Excel to compare two lists, or two data sets to find missing or matching items. If COUNTIF returns a count greater than 1, the filter will still work properly. You can also quickly see the items in list 2 that are not in list 1 as these do not have formatting applied. Applying IF with AND Function 5. But I can not see missmatches? In the example shown here, results for Q4 in the earlier version weren't final. 5. Among the several option, find new rule. Select all rows of your first list by clicking the text box in the top-left corner and choosing FirstList.. Get started with our course today. If you are not yet familiar with Dynamic Arrays, I would suggest you have a read of this article:Excel Dynamic Arrays A new way to model your Excel Spreadsheets: to get a better understand on how they work and spill ranges. Read More: How to Compare Two Columns in Excel For Finding Differences. Find the spreadsheet file with the lists you want to compare, and double-click the file to open it in Microsoft Excel. You can use the following basic formula to compare two lists in Excel using the, To do so, we can highlight every value in column A and then click the, In the new window that appears, select the option that says, How to Calculate Class Width in Google Sheets, How to Fix: RuntimeWarning: overflow encountered in exp. The column order is exactly the same, but the order of rows can change and values in the row can change as well. If you don't see the Inquire tab in Excel, see Turn on the Inquire add-in. The only change to the match formula is instead of selecting cell C2 as our lookup value we will select the range C2:12. For this, we will use the same dataset and formula which was used in the earlier method. Strategy 3: Match Row Difference by Using IF Condition. In this Video learn how to use a single formula to find the matches & differences in two lists.Software Tools/Products by Teknisha: https://gumroad.com/tek. Now our task is to find out the products which are in two order tables. Combining IF and COUNTIF Functions to Compare Columns Conclusion This will create a unique column for each row which we can then use as the matching column, In this example we could combine the Name and DoB to give each table a unique identifier. Highlight Differences Applying Conditional Formatting How to Find Texts Occurring More Than Twice in Excel In the lower-left pane, choose the options you want included in the workbook comparison, such as formulas, cell formatting, or macros. 4. Compare Two Lists and Return Differences.xlsx. When you need to look at more than one column, the solution would be to create a composite column combining the data into one column. Tested. The first we will look at is the MATCH function. In the first portion it takes the condition or criteria, then the value which will be printed if the result is true and then if the result is false. If you have any other method of achieving this then please feel free to share it with us. The MATCH function returns the relative position in a list. This is best practice as very often with relative and absolute cell references it can be difficult to get the formula correct. In the example shown, the formula in F5 is: = FILTER ( list1, COUNTIF ( list2, list1)) where list1 (B5:B15) and list2 (D5:D13) are named ranges. Strategy 4: Match Data Even If There is a Row Difference. 1 Answer Sorted by: 3 A quick and dirty way to do this is to use a vlookup formula to identify names from File 1 that also appear in File 2. 4. In this case, we have applied two different conditional formats. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Statology is a site that makes learning statistics easy by explaining topics in simple and straightforward ways. Microsoft Audit and Control Management Server provides powerful change management features for Excel and Access files, and is complemented by Microsoft Discovery and Risk Assessment Server, which provides inventory and analysis features, all aimed at helping you reduce the risk associated with using tools developed by end users in Excel and Access. As this is Excel, there are always more than one way to do things, including comparing data. Alternatively, you can select any empty cell on your spreadsheet. Have questions? Details appear in a pane below the two grids. You can later use this name to insert your list into the comparison formula. For example, this is Sheet 1 And this is sheet 2 Sheet 1 and Sheet 2 contain same projects (except sheet 2 have one newly added project (Q41312112)). Any of the lookup functions will really work along with some others! Here we have two lists. This come in the form of new conditions in the formula syntax such as search mode and match types. Wish I had known long time go. [value_if_false] -> This is the message which will be printed if the decision is false. By using our site, you agree to our. Compare Two Columns Using Equal Operator 2. Looking at our previous formula using XMATCH to find items in list 2 not in list 1, we can re-write this function now using our table references, =NOT (ISNUMBER(XMATCH(list2[List 2],list1[List 1]))). Select the range of sheet 1 you want to compare with sheet 2. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Using Dynamic arrays, the function would be. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Each video comes with its own practice worksheet. If youd only like to highlight missing items in a specific list, then use a formula with conditional formatting as explained below. Alternatively, you cancontact us with this link. In addition to the comparison features of Spreadsheet Compare, Excel 2013 has an Inquire add-in you can turn on that makes an "Inquire" tab available. 1. 4. Share your Data Story with the Community in the Data Stories Gallery. Simply put VLOOKUP will return a corresponding value from a cell, if there is no corresponding value an #N/A error will be returned. Where not will turn trues into false and false into trues. Type "firstList", and click OK. Conditional formatting tells us instantly that Guava and Tangerine are not in list1. Under the "Home" menu, select "Conditional Formatting." Select "Highlight Cells Rules" in this menu, followed by "Duplicate Values." Select "Unique" from the first dropdown menu, followed by your preferred formatting in the second menu. This function can take two arguments in its parameter and compare them. 2. Its quick, its simple and it is effective. The calculated result in cell F5 also changed, but the more important reason is that in the earlier version its formula was incorrect (it summed only B5:D5, omitting the value for Q4). Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Use Row Differences Command of Go To Special Tool to Compare Two Lists in Excel 3. Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more. Click the blue folder icon next to the Compare box to browse to the location of the earlier version of your workbook. In the comparison results, cells E2:E5 in both versions have a green fill that means an entered value has changed. Merge (Join) the 2 queries using an inner join (assuming both have the same primary keys, use a full outer join otherwise). Therefore, when you are writing a formula and you select a column from a table, it will not show cell references, but the column name. This way you know exactly what items are missing from your lists. It's not necessary to name the lists, but it will make our formulas easier to read and undertand. In the left pane select the worksheet where your datas are, and doubleclick it. If there are multiple worksheets, they're available by clicking the forward and back buttons on the horizontal scroll bar. On this window, from the Select a Rule Type section, choose Use a Formula to Determine Which Cells to Format.. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Name your second list "secondList" the same way. Here we have two lists. As we can see it takes two arguments which will be string or text and return the compared result. My last educational degree is BSc, and my program was Computer Science and Engineering from American International University-Bangladesh. You can also compare lists and datasets using Excels Power Query. From the Inquire tab, you can analyze a workbook, see relationships between cells, worksheets, and other workbooks, and clean excess formatting from a worksheet. I am pleased with your course and find it very easy to follow. From formulas and Conditional Formatting to Power Query. A number based on its position, if found, in the lookup array. This is a great way to visually highlight missing items in a list. % of people told us that this article helped them. Also see Overview of Spreadsheet Compare. If the cells are too narrow to show the cell contents, click Resize Cells to Fit. Enter the formula = COUNTIF (secondList,A1)=0 7. Learn Excel with high quality video training. Dont have a Hive wallet or a Steempress Account? When you have data in two different lists, you may often need to compare them to see what information is missing in one of the lists or what data is present in both. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. That means if we add new data to one of the lists, we have a manual step to update our formula to include the new data. The formula in column C is =IF (ISERROR (VLOOKUP (A2,B:B,1,FALSE)),A2,"") We can either use the equal (=) sign or the not equal sign (<>) in our logical condition. Private Sub Worksheet_Change (ByVal Target As Excel.Range) If Target.Column = 1 And InStr (1, Target.Offset (0, 1).Value, Target.Value) > 0 . If you are not familiar with Custom Conditional Formatting, I would suggest you check out this article:Excel Dynamic Conditional Formatting Tricks: We need to look at two different approaches here to highlighting differences. One Item in Another Table 3.1. Use a Combination of IF, ISERROR, and MATCH Functions 7. Welcome to my Profile. Next select Duplicate values. If all the data associated a Primary Key is the same in both tables then that Primary Key would not appear in the result.I know how to do this by building a separate query for each column and ultimately appending the results but I am hoping there is a more direct method of producing this kind of result. With XMATCH we can use either Dynamic arrays or cell references to create the formula, just like we have looked at with MATCH. Let's say you have two Excel workbooks, or maybe two versions of the same workbook, that you want to compare. I do hope that you will share this article across your social profiles, The Professional Training Academy Limited T/A The Excel Club. Combining IF, ISNA, and VLOOKUP Functions 6. We will return a message if the products name is matched or not for each row. There are many lookup formulas that you can use to compare two ranges or lists in Excel. Open Spreadsheet Compare. 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