[excel] Excel - Shading entire row based on change of value

I have found a simple solution to banding by content at Pearson Software Consulting: Let's say the header is from A1 to B1, table data is from A2 to B5, the controling cell is in the A column

  1. Make a new column, C
  2. At first the first row to color make the formula =true in the C2 cell
  3. In the second row make the formula =IF(A3=A2,C2,NOT(C2))
  4. Fill the column down to the last row
  5. Select the data range
  6. Select conditional formatting, choose Use a formula... and put =$C2 as the formula