Part I: Getting Started with Excel
Managing rules
The Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog box is useful for checking, editing, delet-
ing, and adding conditional formats. First select any cell in the range that contains condi-
tional formatting. Then choose Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional Formatting ➪ Manage Rules.
You can specify as many rules as you like by clicking the New Rule button. Cells can even
use data bars, color scales, and icon sets at the same time.
Copying cells that contain conditional formatting
Conditional formatting information is stored with a cell much like standard formatting
information is stored with a cell. As a result, when you copy a cell that contains conditional
formatting, you also copy the conditional formatting.
To copy only the formatting (including conditional formatting), copy the cells and then use the Paste Special dialog
box and select the Formats option, or choose Home ➪ Clipboard ➪ Paste ➪ Formatting (R).
If you insert rows or columns within a range that contains conditional formatting, the new cells
have the same conditional formatting.
Deleting conditional formatting
When you press Delete to delete the contents of a cell, you don’t delete the conditional
formatting for the cell (if any). To remove all conditional formats (as well as all other cell
formatting), select the cell and then choose Home ➪ Editing ➪ Clear ➪ Clear Formats. Or,
choose Home ➪ Editing ➪ Clear ➪ Clear All to delete the cell contents and the conditional
formatting.
To remove only conditional formatting (and leave the other formatting intact), choose
Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional Formatting ➪ Clear Rules and choose one of the available
options.
Locating cells that contain conditional formatting
You can’t always tell, just by looking at a cell, whether it contains conditional formatting.
You can, however, use the Go To Special dialog box to select such cells.
- Choose Home ➪ Editing ➪ Find & Select ➪ Go To Special. The Go To Special dialog
box appears.
- In the Go To Special dialog box, select the Conditional Formats option.
- To select all cells on the worksheet containing conditional formatting, select the
All option; to select only the cells that contain the same conditional formatting as
the active cell, select the Same option.
- Click OK. Excel selects the cells for you.
