7 Conditional formatting

7  What is conditional formatting?

Conditional formatting makes it easy to highlight certain values or make particular cells easy to identify. This changes the appearance of a cell range based on a condition (or criteria). You can use conditional formatting to highlight cells that contain values which meet a certain condition

conditional formatting

 Conditional formatting makes it easy to highlight certain values or make particular cells easy to identify. This changes the appearance of a cell range based on a condition (or criteria). You can use conditional formatting to highlight cells that contain values which meet a certain condition. Or you can format a whole cell range and vary the exact format as the value of each cell varies.

Temperature information with conditional formatting applied that shows top 10% and bottom 10% values

Temperature information with 3-color scale conditional formatting applied

Apply conditional formatting

1. Select the range of cells, the table, or the whole sheet that you want to apply conditional formatting to.

2. On the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   To highlight	Do this
   Values in specific cells. Examples are dates after this week, or numbers between 50 and 100, or the bottom 10% of scores.	Point to Highlight Cells Rules or Top/Bottom Rules, and then click the appropriate option.
   The relationship of values in a cell range. Extends a band of color across the cell. Examples are comparisons of prices or populations in the largest cities.	Point to Data Bars, and then click the fill that you want.
   The relationship of values in a cell range. Applies a color scale where the intensity of the cell's color reflects the value's placement toward the top or bottom of the range. An example is sales distributions across regions.	Point to Color Scales, and then click the scale that you want.
   A cell range that contains three to five groups of values, where each group has its own threshold. For example, you might assign a set of three icons to highlight cells that reflect sales below $80,000, below $60,000, and below $40,000. Or you might assign a 5-point rating system for automobiles and apply a set of five icons.	Point to Icon Sets, and then click a set.

More options

See also