How can I check to see if two Excel spreadsheet columns have the same exact data?

Solution 1:

If you're comparing row values to row values and the values are always the same (e.g. always Yes or No or True or False), its a relatively simple task to compare. Simply use the formula =A1=B1 to determine if the values are the same. You can fill this formula down for every row that needs the comparison. Then you can filter on the comparison column and select any rows that return a False.

EDIT: This will work across workbooks, just properly reference the cells e.g. =A1=[Book2]Sheet1!A1. You should also be able to do this for two columns from a third workbook.

Solution 2:

Mr. Vandenbos's answer also suppose the rows are in the same order. Ex.: File1 File2 File3

But if one of the list is not in the same order has the other like this: File3 File1 File2

Than you should use the VLOOKUP() Excel function, which performs a 'vertical lookup'. ... or sort first. I only wanted to make people aware of the VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions of Excel which are made for that purpose.