Hilight new index items

[Jester]

Hello everyone

I'm using Excel 97 and have a new index for a series of items that's
produced each month. I copy it into column C of a worksheet. I have a
"master" index in column A which I need to grow each month, as new items are
added to the monthly list. There is a small chance that items may be
deleted from the monthly list. The lists are sorted in the same way. The
problem that I have is that I would like to check each item in the new
monthly list and, if it's not present on the master list, hilight it in some
way (perhaps make the cell colour red?). I'd add it manually to the master
list. In addition, if an item has been deleted from the monthly list (i.e.
it's not present when it is on the master list), I'd like to hilight this on
the master list.

I suppose that one way to add the new items would be to tag the new list
onto the end of the master one, sort the composite list and then get rid of
duplicates. That would be fine but I have data in some of the cells in
column B which relate to items in the master list in column A so I don't
want to manipulate any of the data in column A or B automatically.

I guess that the easiest way to do this (and guarantee that I don't miss any
new, or deleted, items in the new list) is by using code but my experience
won't allow me to do that so I'm asking for help. I'd add that there are
over 800 items in the master list and I suspect that there might be an
additional 10 - 20 items in each new monthly list.

I hope the explanation of what I need is OK.

Thanks for your time (and patience!).

Jester

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

Why not use you append method, then sort both columns A and B so the data in
B remains with the Data in A.

Chip Pearson has an entire page on working with Uniques and duplicates which
should give you additional ideas

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

I am sure it doesn't have a canned solution for you, but the functions used
should give you some ideas how to solve your problems.

 

[Jester]

Thank you Tom. I guess it's a lot easier to use built-in functions that
coding. A quick look at Chip's page tells me that I'll find a solution
there. I'm very grateful for the prompt respose.

Jester