Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 7, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Bev is having a problem setting up a conditional format for some cells. What she wants to do is to format the cells so that if they contain a date before today, they will use a bold red font; if they contain a date after today, they will use a bold green font. Bev cannot get both conditions to work properly.
What is probably happening here is a frustrating artifact of the way that Excel parses the conditions you enter. Follow these steps to see what I mean:
Figure 1. The New Formatting Rule dialog box.
Any dates prior to today will be bold red and any after today will be bold green. If the date is today's date, then it will not be formatted in any particular manner.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12929) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Conditionally Formatting for Multiple Date Comparisons.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Conditional formatting can be used to draw attention to all sorts of data based upon the criteria you specify. Here's how ...
Discover MoreConditional formatting does not allow you to change the typeface and font size used in a cell. You can write your own ...
Discover MoreConditional formatting is a great tool for changing the format of cells based on whether certain conditions (rules) are ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-07-09 07:25:21
Richard
While I understand the steps presented, I don't understand the significance of the phrase "What is probably happening here is a frustrating artifact of the way that Excel parses the conditions you enter."
I thought you would have illustrated Bev's problem but it appears that you have simply shown a solution.
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