change cell shading when a number differs from the previous number

[Guest]

I am generally familiar with Excel, but need some help on this particular
problem.

Is there a way to apply a format where: whenever the number in a column
differs from the one previous to it, a cell shading color change is applied.

For example, you have a column of numbers in Excel:

2
2
2
5 (cell shading color change applied)
5
5
5
2 (cell shading color change applied)
2
2
3 (cell shading color change applied)
etc....

It doesn't matter what color is used, just so that it is applied whenever
there is a change from the previous number.

There has got to be an easy answer to this.... thanks so much in advance for
any help!

 

[Dave Peterson]

You can use Format|Conditional formatting...


Select A2 to Axxx (bottom of range) and with A2 the activecell:

Format|conditional formatting
Cell value is: "NOT EQUAL TO"
rightmost text box: =a1

And give it a nice format.