条件格式-突出显示公式不同的单元格？

Question

Is there a way via Conditional Formatting (preferably no VBA, but if it's a must , then I'm open to it), to highlight a cell where the formula "idea" is different than the cell above?

I have a column of formulas, but have to manually edit a few of those. I'd like to have those manually edited formulas highlighted, so when I change the formula for the other cells, I know which cell to skip when updating that column.

For example, here's my column and formulas:

I'd like to have B5 highlighted yellow, since the formula is different.

I've tried using =FORMULATEXT($B3)<>FORMULATEXT($B2) but that doesn't work, since it's looking at the literal formula text...in which has they're always different. ( =FORMULATEXT(B3)=FORMULATEXT(B2) will always be FALSE since the formula is technically changing, despite it being the same "idea").

I could also perhaps use =LEN($B3)<>LEN($B2) but that would have a false positive when the row changes from 9 to 10 , and again from 99 to 100 ...

The other option would, of course, just be to work in an IF() statement to clarify why I'm doing a different formula, ie =IF(ROW()=5,A5+A4+A2+A1,A5+A4) and use that...but there's no real logic for why I have to edit manually I could work in - which is why I'd just like a nice visual reminder on those random cells that the formula isn't like the others.

Edit: Quick note that the above formulas are way simplified. My actual ones are a little complex. I'm looking for a general answer to this too. Just thinking for my purposes, I could maybe do a check that if the formula has more than two + in it, highlight the cell. ...but I'm interested in a general way to solve this type of issue that could apply more broadly.

Answer 1

Here's another option for UDF:

Function findDifferent(Rng As Range) As Boolean

findDifferent = Not (Rng.FormulaR1C1 = Rng.Offset(-1).FormulaR1C1 Or Rng.FormulaR1C1 = Rng.Offset(1).FormulaR1C1)
End Function

Answer 2

Here's a quick VB aided solution I came up with. If I add a comment to the special cells (which I do to explain the formula/why it's different), I can check for a comment then highlight it.

Add this function to the workbook:

Function has_Comment(cel As Range) As Boolean
has_Comment = False
If cel.Comment.Text <> "" Then
    has_Comment = True
End If
End Function

Then a simple Conditional Formatting formula of:

=has_comment(B2)

That works, and is relatively simple.

Edit: I found also you can do this, which doesn't rely on a comment. Just points out an Inconsistency Error .

Function has_inconsistency(cel As Range) As Boolean
has_inconsistency = False
If cel.Errors.Item(xlInconsistentFormula).Value = True Then
    has_inconsistency = True
End If
End Function