Multi-Cell Conditional Formatting (XL 2000)

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I just installed Excel XP – need to conditionally format a column based on the column to the left. Can’t do it – help!!

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Select the column (say it’s D)
Use Format/Conditional Format
Change “Cell Value Is” to “Formula Is”
Assuming D1 is active, enter
=$C1=whatever your test is, like
=NOT(ISBLANK($C1))
Then click FOrmat button & do whatever you want.

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I’ve attached a small sample of what I’m trying to do – sorry – should have done this in the first place. This spreadsheet is used to see if the electric company is reading our meters correctly so I need to see the result formatted conditionally if the second meter number entered is equal to or less than the first meter number. I can make each cell separately but can’t figure out how to do the whole column at once.

Do you teach your class on line? I teach intermediate Excel to adults at our local Adult Education school and am always eager to expand my knowledge.

Thanks again

Linda

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I’ve attached a small sample of what I’m trying to do – sorry – should have done this in the first place. This spreadsheet is used to see if the electric company is reading our meters correctly so I need to see the result formatted conditionally if the second meter number entered is equal to or less than the first meter number. I can make each cell separately but can’t figure out how to do the whole column at once.

Do you teach your class on line? I teach intermediate Excel to adults at our local Adult Education school and am always eager to expand my knowledge.

Thanks again

Linda

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Considering that the cell on the right is to be formatted according to it’s relationship to the cell on the left, set the conditional formatting for cell B2 as Bob explained, then copy only the formatting down the column using either the format painter, or by copying cell B2 and paste special, formats only down all applicable rows of column B.

Perhaps you could tell us exactly what format you want, such as “the number in column B should be colored red if it less than the column A amount on the same row”.

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Your signature is exceptionally nice. I received a Christmas card yesterday which read: “May peace shine on all of your places and spaces.” Loved that as well. Thanks for the reponse and enjoy Mountain time .

Again – thanks

Linda

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Thanks. Not the usual response I get, since it’s generally regarded as a drug reference. Who knows what Jimi Hendrix was thinking when he wrote it.

But more importantly, did you solve your Excel problem?

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If you want the values in column B to be highlighted if the are less than or equal to the corresponding values in column A, select the cell (B2 ?) and extend the select as far as you like and enter the condition

Cell value is , Less than or equal to = $A2

making sure to remove the default $ sign before the 2. See attached.

Andrew C

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Select all of column B, then simply use this:
=B1<=A2
(You had a quote in your formula, among other things).
My course is not taught online, sorry.

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Bummer – but thanks for the reply. Have a good one.

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