Compare Two Excel sheets and find the difference - vba

Question

I want to find out or highlight the differences between two Excel sheets.
from above image I want to compare both sheets based on "Name" and "RuleName", if the number matches it needs to check differences for "Text" and "Rule Text" and it needs to find the differences like highlighted text in second Excel document.

Answer 1

This should do:
Sub HighlightDiffBtwSheets()
'Substitute "TEST1" with the name of the sheet where you have the Name-Text columns
'Substitute "TEST2" with the name of the sheet where you have the RuleName-RuleText columns
'Substitute A in the Range with the column letter of Name/RuleName
For Each Name In Sheets("TEST1").Range("A2:A" & Sheets("TEST1").Cells(Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row)
For Each RuleName In Sheets("TEST2").Range("A2:A" & Sheets("TEST2").Cells(Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row)
If InStr(RuleName.Value, Name.Value) <> 0 Then
If Name.Offset(, 1).Value <> RuleName.Offset(, 1).Value Then
RuleName.Offset(, 1).Select
With Selection.Interior
.Color = 65535
End With
End If
End If
Next
Next
End Sub

Answer 2

An easier non VBA way to do this is to use Conditional Formatting. Just Create A New Rule, then select Use Formula option. Use a relative reference (no dollar signs) and copy to where you need it. For example, =A1<>Sheet1!A1

Answer 3

I have created this file to compare two excel workbooks few years back, code is very elemantary but it does work with few limitations.
Limitations:
both file should not have same name
it only compare values in the cell, does not compare any graphics.
It is only comparing first 300 rows and first 200 columns, you can very easily update this in code to fit your need.
Code is divided into two subs. 1. Compareworkbook and 2. CreateNewWorksheet
You can creat browse button macro to populate two excel file names in named cell "file1" and named cell "file2". Then you can use Compareworkbook macro to compare two excel files. Once you run "Compareworkbook" macro, it will create new worksheet to show you the report. it only shows the values which are different.
You can modify this code to compare certain columns or to fit your need. This should give you a good starting point.
Sub CompareWorkbook1()
'this subroutine is created to compare two excel files
'This will only compare first 300 rows and 150 column for all worksheet
'in both workbook assuming both workbook has same number of worksheets
Dim wb As Workbook, wb1 As Workbook, wb2 As Workbook
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim wBook1 As Variant
Dim wBook2 As Variant
'Set source workbook
Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
'Open the target workbook
wBook1 = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1").Range("file1").Value
wBook2 = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1").Range("file2").Value
Answer = MsgBox("This will generate a new report, Do you want to proceed?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "Are you sure? This will delete existing reports and generate new reports")
If Answer = vbNo Then
GoTo exit1
Else
If Range("file1").Value = "" Then
Msg = "ERROR: INFORMATION MISSING ..." & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Msg = Msg & "Make sure you browse the file "
Msg = Msg & "by clicking on Browse button next to Step 1 " & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Msg = Msg & "REPORT WILL NOT GENERATE"
MsgBox Msg, vbCritical
GoTo exit1
End If
If Range("file2").Value = "" Then
Msg = "ERROR: INFORMATION MISSING ..." & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Msg = Msg & "Make sure you browse the file "
Msg = Msg & "by clicking on Browse button next to Step 2 " & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Msg = Msg & "REPORT WILL NOT GENERATE"
MsgBox Msg, vbCritical
GoTo exit1
End If
'generate new worksheet
ReportName = "Comparison Results"
Call CreateNewWorksheet(ReportName)
'set workbooks as variable wb1 and wb2
Set wb1 = Workbooks.Open(wBook1)
Set wb2 = Workbooks.Open(wBook2)
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(4, 2).Value = wb1.Name
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(4, 3).Value = wb2.Name
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(3, 7).Value = wb1.Name
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(3, 10).Value = wb2.Name
'Pull data from browsed workbook for All incident
'MsgBox "WOrkbooks are opened"
ThisWorkbook.Activate
Dim oSheet As Excel.Worksheet
'This will populate all Worksheet name in Combo box
Dim a As Integer
Dim b As Integer
Dim c As Integer
Dim d As Integer
Dim wSheetsNo As Integer
Dim wSheetsNo1 As Integer
Dim wSheetsNo2 As Integer
a = 1
b = 1
c = 1
d = 1
wSheetsNo1 = 0
wSheetsNo2 = 0
a = 5
b = 2
For Each oSheet In wb1.Sheets
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b) = oSheet.Name
a = a + 1
wSheetsNo1 = wSheetsNo1 + 1
Next oSheet
a = 5
b = 3
For Each oSheet In wb1.Sheets
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b) = oSheet.Name
a = a + 1
wSheetsNo2 = wSheetsNo2 + 1
Next oSheet
a = 5
b = 7
'populates all worksheet from 1st workbook to compare
For wSheetsNo = 1 To wSheetsNo1
'Compares from row 1 to 300
For c = 1 To 300
'Compares columns 1 to 200
For d = 1 To 200
'Compares each cell value in each worksheets for these two workbook
If wb1.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Cells(c, d).Value <> wb2.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Cells(c, d).Value Then
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b + 1) = "Cells (" & c & ", " & d & ")"
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b + 4) = "Cells (" & c & ", " & d & ")"
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b + 2) = wb1.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Cells(c, d).Value
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b + 5) = wb2.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Cells(c, d).Value
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b) = wb1.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Name
wb.Sheets(2).Cells(a, b + 3) = wb2.Sheets(wSheetsNo).Name
a = a + 1
End If
'looks into next column
Next
'looks into next row
Next
'looks into next worksheet
Next
'closes both workbook
wb1.Close
wb2.Close
End If
'exit if files is now browsed or path is empty
exit1:
End Sub
Sub CreateNewWorksheet(ReportName)
Dim wsSheet As Worksheet
On Error Resume Next
Set wsSheet = Sheets(ReportName)
On Error GoTo 0
If Not wsSheet Is Nothing Then
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Sheets(ReportName).Delete
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End If
'Add New sheet at end of worksheet
ActiveWorkbook.Sheets.Add After:=Worksheets(Worksheets.Count)
ActiveSheet.Name = ReportName
Sheets("Comparison Results").Select
Range("B4").Select
Sheets("Comparison Results").Select
Range("B3").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Worksheets which are compared"
Range("B4").Select
Columns("B:B").ColumnWidth = 27.57
Columns("B:B").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 28
Columns("C:C").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 28
Range("B3:C3").Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlGeneral
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = True
End With
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = True
End With
Selection.Font.Bold = True
Range("B4").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "1st Workbook"
Range("C4").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "2nd Workbook"
Range("B4:C4").Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = False
End With
Range("B3:C50").Select
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll Down:=-45
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("B3:C4").Select
With Selection.Interior
.Pattern = xlSolid
.PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
.Color = 10092543
.TintAndShade = 0
.PatternTintAndShade = 0
End With
Range("B5:C50").Select
With Selection.Interior
.Pattern = xlSolid
.PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
.Color = 10092543
.TintAndShade = 0
.PatternTintAndShade = 0
End With
Range("C13").Select
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll Down:=-15
Range("B3:C3").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Worksheets which are compared"
Columns("G:L").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 28
Selection.ColumnWidth = 10
Selection.ColumnWidth = 15
Selection.ColumnWidth = 18
Range("G3:I3").Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlGeneral
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = True
End With
Selection.Copy
Range("J3").Select
Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteFormats, Operation:=xlNone, _
SkipBlanks:=False, Transpose:=False
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Range("G3:I3").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = ""
Range("G4").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Worksheet"
Range("H4").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Cell number"
Range("I4").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Value in the cell"
Range("G4:I4").Select
Selection.Copy
Range("J4").Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Range("B4").Select
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Selection.ClearContents
Range("C4").Select
Selection.ClearContents
Range("G3:L10000").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select
With Selection.Interior
.Pattern = xlSolid
.PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
.Color = 10092543
.TintAndShade = 0
.PatternTintAndShade = 0
End With
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("G3:L4").Select
Selection.Font.Bold = True
Range("B3:C4").Select
Selection.Font.Bold = False
Selection.Font.Bold = True
Range("B4:L4").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlGeneral
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = False
End With
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = False
End With
Range("G3:L3").Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
End With
Range("G5").Select
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll Down:=-15
Range("G3:I3").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlToRight)).Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlToLeft)).Select
Range("G3:L3").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("G3:L4").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("G3:L10000").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("B3:C4").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("B3:C50").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("G3:I10000").Select
Range(Selection, Selection.End(xlDown)).Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Columns("D:F").Select
Range("F1").Activate
Selection.ColumnWidth = 3
Range("G2:L2").Select
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlGeneral
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = True
End With
With Selection.Interior
.Pattern = xlSolid
.PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
.Color = 10092543
.TintAndShade = 0
.PatternTintAndShade = 0
End With
Range("G2:L2").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "Comparison Results"
Range("G2:L2").Select
Selection.Font.Bold = True
With Selection
.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
.VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
.WrapText = False
.Orientation = 0
.AddIndent = False
.IndentLevel = 0
.ShrinkToFit = False
.ReadingOrder = xlContext
.MergeCells = True
End With
With Selection.Font
.Name = "Calibri"
.Size = 14
.Strikethrough = False
.Superscript = False
.Subscript = False
.OutlineFont = False
.Shadow = False
.Underline = xlUnderlineStyleNone
.ThemeColor = xlThemeColorLight1
.TintAndShade = 0
.ThemeFont = xlThemeFontMinor
End With
Range("G2:L2").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
Selection.Borders(xlInsideVertical).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal).LineStyle = xlNone
'Sheets("Sheet1").Select
Range("B2").Select
Range("G3:L4").Select
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalDown).LineStyle = xlNone
Selection.Borders(xlDiagonalUp).LineStyle = xlNone
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeLeft)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeTop)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeBottom)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlEdgeRight)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlMedium
End With
With Selection.Borders(xlInsideHorizontal)
.LineStyle = xlContinuous
.ColorIndex = 0
.TintAndShade = 0
.Weight = xlThin
End With
Range("B1").Select
End Sub