Weird. Duplicated values highlighted in Excel, but they are clearly not duplicates!

SkylerM 

I have the same problem as you. this problem is because excel can only distinguish duplicates with content in cells no more than 15 characters. but I don't know how to extend the character limit

SkylerM 

That's bit different issue. Comparing texts which looks like numbers conditional formatting converts them to numbers and compares the latest. Comparing the numbers all what after first 15 digits is ignored. Same behaviour has COUNTIF().

To prevent conversion we may use such trick:

SergeiBaklan 

i also experience the same problem, i deal with barcodes and "case ids" at my work and case ids beginning with "001" always return to me as duplicate values, and in my current workbook even appear to be sorted as such when using advance search

Elipum 

It looks like rule highlights unique values even if you set it for duplicates. If on your machine you you have two same values in the list will they be highlighted?

I'm sure there is a simple explanation for everything.  You just have to abandon your "weird" thoughts, and look for the obvious.  For example....

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Elipum  wrote: ``The format I gave them was Text for all. I don't know why it is changing when opening in your side.``

The __type__ of the data is text.  That is, ISTEXT returns TRUE for all of A1:A8.  But that is because the data is prefixed with an apostrophe (single-quote).  You would not have had to do that if the cell formats were Text.

In contrast, the __format__ of the cells is a mix of General (A1:A3, A6) and Custom "h:mm" (A4:A5, A7:A8).  Look for yourself to confirm.  But the cell format does not matter.  We can have text __values__ in cells with numeric formats, and numeric __values__ in cells that are formatted as Text.

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Elipum  wrote: ``Duplicated values highlighted in Excel, but they are clearly not duplicates!``

Just because they have the same appearance as the Condition Formatting, that does not mean that CF caused the appearance.

To confirm, temporarily change the CF font and fill colors.  I suspect that you will not see any changes in A1:A8.

OTOH, I note that the __style__ of A1:A8 is a __custom__ style called Normal 2.  In contrast, by the default, the cell style is Normal.  (Errata.... The style for A1 is Percent!  But I suspect the following applies to it as well!)

On my system, the characteristics of Normal 2 is the same as Normal.  That is why __we__ do not see any difference in font and fill color.

But I suspect __your__ Normal 2 style specifies the same font and fill color as your CF.  That is why it __appears__ as if the CF applied.  (It did not.)

Right-click Normal 2, and click Modify.  This is what I see.

But I suspect you see the following, which is the Bad style for me:

Drill down on Format > Font and Format > Fill to see the details.

I can only guess why __we__ do not see the same characteristics for the Normal 2 style.  Perhaps those details are in the local computer's Registry, not in the Excel file.  (Surprise!)

And then there is the anomaly of style Percent in A1 to explain.  "The exercise is left for the student".  (wink)  My wild guess:  A1 is also the Normal 2 style for you.

Elipum 

Thank you, but my Excel shows no duplicates in your file

I don't know what's the reason, sorry. By the way, some cells in above range have General format, some hh:mm. Is that intentionally?