Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 2, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Graham described a problem he was having with a worksheet. He wanted to use conditional formatting to highlight all the cells in a row if the value in column E was greater than a particular value. He was having problems coming up with the proper way to do that.
Suppose for a moment that your data is in cells A3:H50. You can apply the proper conditional formatting by following these steps:
Figure 1. The New Formatting Rule dialog box.
Figure 2. Use a Formula to Determine Which Cells to Format.
Figure 3. The Format Cells dialog box.
The formula used in the conditional format (step 8) works because you use the absolute indicator (the dollar sign) just before the column letter. Any reference that has the $ before it is not changed when Excel propagates it throughout a range. In this case, the cell reference will always be to column E, although the row portion of the reference can change.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7360) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Conditionally Formatting an Entire Row.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
If you just updated your copy of Excel, you may have noticed some differences in how the program handles applying ...
Discover MoreConditional Formatting is a great boon to effectively displaying the information in your worksheets. If you want to ...
Discover MoreExcel's conditional formatting feature allows you to create formats that are based on a wide variety of criteria. If you ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-03-04 09:11:45
Kit
THANK YOU so much for this tip!!!
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments