How to Highlight Cells that Start a Text String

Using conditional formatting, you can quickly highlight all the cells that start with a text string. Please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Select the data range;

Step 2: Click the "Home" tab from the Ribbon;

Step 3: Click the "Conditional Formatting" command in the "Styles" section;

Step 4: Click the "Highlight Cells Rules" command from the drop-down list, then select "More rules" from the extended list;

Step 5: Set up the rules in the "New Formatting Rule" window;

– In the first box, select "Specific Text";

– In the second box, select "beginning with";

– In the third box, enter the text string, e.g., "J";

Step 6: Click the "Format" button and select the formatting style in the "Format Cells" window, e.g., fill the cells with blue;

Step 7: Click "OK" at the bottom and you will see the cells start with "J" are now in blue.

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