How to compare and show differences on multiple columns in Microsoft Excel - excel

Question

I have a sheet with data in 2 columns, A and B:
--A-- --B--
Apple 57
Orange 62
Lime 45
Orange 58
Apple 57
What I want is, I need to search column A for duplicates, then if there are any, look for their value in column B. If they are different, I want to color the cell in column A to red, show the other value of that entry in column C, and show a message on how many indifferences there are. Something like this:
--A-- --B-- --C--
Apple 57
Orange 62 58
Lime 45
Orange 58 62
Apple 57
Please help me with this, I know how to compare the value in one column, but then don't know how to search for additional value for them in the other column.

Answer 1

Since i am still at learning process it may not be the best solution but it seems it is working
```
' inoG
Sub Solution()
Dim rows As Integer
rows = Range("a1").End(xlDown).Row 'Getting total row number
Dim dt As Variant
dt = Range("a1:c" & rows) 'data into array '
'forward search
For i = 1 To rows
For j = i + 1 To rows
If dt(i, 1) = dt(j, 1) And dt(i, 2) <> dt(j, 2) Then
dt(i, 3) = dt(j, 2)
GoTo Continue1
End If
Next j
Continue1:
Next i
'backward search
For i = rows To 1 Step -1
For j = i - 1 To 1 Step -1
If dt(i, 1) = dt(j, 1) And dt(i, 2) <> dt(j, 2) Then
dt(i, 3) = dt(j, 2)
GoTo Continue2
End If
Next j
Continue2:
Next i
'filling row C and Highlighting
For i = 1 To rows
If Not IsEmpty(dt(i, 3)) Then
Cells(i, 3) = dt(i, 3)
Range("A" & i).Interior.ColorIndex = 3
End If
Next i
'Final Message
Dim totdif As Integer
totdif = WorksheetFunction.CountA(Range("C1:C1" & rows))
MsgBox totdif
End Sub

Answer 2

My following solution used a helper column to rank the values in Column B per item in Column A using COUNTIFS function. Then I used a pivot table to show the average value of each rank for each item.
Presume you have following named ranges:
ListItem being your data in Column A;
ListValue being your data in Column B.
The formula in Cell C2 is:
=IF(COUNTIFS(ListItem,A2,ListValue,">"&B2)+1>1,"2nd Value","1st Value")
Change the cell references used to suit your case.
This solution will create an output table laying out all the unique items and then populate the two different values (if there are two) in two consecutive columns next to each item. For comparison purpose I think a pivot table is sufficient and quite efficient.
P.s. to create a pivot table, you just need to highlight the source table, go to Insert tab, and click the Pivot Table button to generate a pivot table. Set up the fields in the following way and you will have something similar to my example:
EDIT #2
If you want to show the second value in Column C for each item, here is a formula based approach.
In Cell C2 enter the following formula and drag it down:
=IFERROR(AGGREGATE(14,6,AGGREGATE(14,6,ListValue/(ListItem=A2),ROW($Z$1:INDEX($Z:$Z,COUNTIF(ListItem,A2))))/((AGGREGATE(14,6,ListValue/(ListItem=A2),ROW($Z$1:INDEX($Z:$Z,COUNTIF(ListItem,A2))))<>B2)),1),"")
The logic is to use ListValue/(ListItem=A2) to return a range of values for each item, then use AGGREGATE function to filter out all the errors, then use
AGGREGATE(14,6,ListValue/(ListItem=A2),ROW($Z$1:INDEX($Z:$Z,COUNTIF(ListItem,A2))))<>B2
to further filter the range to show the second value (which is different to the first value), then use AGGREGATE function again to return that value.
Let me know if you have any questions. Cheers :)

Answer 3

I think you can do this with formulas.
If you are concerned about users changing the formula, use a Table (and perhaps even protect the formula column, although this would require VBA code to allow expanding the table). That way the ranges will dynamically adjust to additions and deletions of data, and the users will not need to edit the formula:
With the table renamed Fruits, and the columns named as in the screenshot:
=IFERROR(AGGREGATE(14,6,1/(([#Fruit]=[Fruit])*([#Value]<>[Value]))*[Value],1),"")
Use Conditional Formatting to format the cells
EDIT:
I think the table approach would give you a better solution, but for a VBA approach I would use a Dictionary and a collection of the different values associated with the fruits.
Assuming your first column is named "Fruit" (or something you can use in Find, or even a known address), you can use the following to create a column of the alternate values for each item.
'Add reference to Microsoft Scripting Runtime
' or use late binding
Option Explicit
Sub diffs()
Dim myD As Dictionary
Dim vData As Variant
Dim rData As Range, C As Range
Dim wsSrc As Worksheet
Dim I As Long, V As Variant
Dim colVals As Collection
'Find the table
Set wsSrc = Worksheets("sheet2") 'or wherever
With wsSrc.Cells
Set C = .Find(what:="Fruit", after:=.Item(1, 1), LookIn:=xlValues, lookat:=xlWhole, MatchCase:=True)
If Not C Is Nothing Then
With wsSrc
Set rData = .Range(C, .Cells(.Rows.Count, C.Column).End(xlUp)).Resize(columnsize:=3)
vData = rData
End With
Else
MsgBox "No data table"
Exit Sub
End If
End With
'Collect the data into a dictionary
'Max 2 different values per fruit
Set myD = New Dictionary
myD.CompareMode = TextCompare
For I = 2 To UBound(vData)
If Not myD.Exists(vData(I, 1)) Then
Set colVals = New Collection
colVals.Add Item:=vData(I, 2), Key:=CStr(vData(I, 2))
myD.Add Key:=vData(I, 1), Item:=colVals
Else
On Error Resume Next 'omit duplicate values
myD(vData(I, 1)).Add Item:=vData(I, 2), Key:=CStr(vData(I, 2))
On Error GoTo 0
End If
Next I
'Populate column 3
For I = 2 To UBound(vData, 1)
Set colVals = myD(vData(I, 1))
vData(I, 3) = ""
If colVals.Count > 1 Then
For Each V In colVals
If V <> vData(I, 2) Then vData(I, 3) = V
Next V
End If
Next I
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
With rData
.Clear
.Value = vData
For I = 2 To UBound(vData)
If vData(I, 3) <> "" Then
With rData.Cells(I, 1)
.Font.Color = vbWhite
.Font.Bold = True
.Interior.Color = vbRed
End With
End If
Next I
End With
End Sub