Excel 2010 Bible

Chapter 20: Visualizing Data Using Conditional Formatting

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Specifying Conditional Formatting

To apply a conditional formatting rule to a cell or range, select the cells and then use one of the

commands from the Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional Formatting drop-down list to specify a rule.

The choices are

l (^) Highlight Cell Rules: Examples rules include highlighting cells that are greater than a
particular value, between two values, contain specific text string, a date, or are duplicated.
l (^) Top Bottom Rules: Examples include highlighting the top 10 items, the items in the bot-
tom 20 percent, and items that are above average.
l (^) Data Bars: Applies graphic bars directly in the cells, proportional to the cell’s value.
l Color Scales: Applies background color, proportional to the cell’s value.
l (^) Icon Sets: Displays icons directly in the cells. The icons depend on the cell’s value.
l New Rule: Enables you to specify other conditional formatting rules, including rules
based on a logical formula.
l Clear Rules: Deletes all the conditional formatting rules from the selected cells.
l (^) Manage Rules: Displays the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog box, in which
you create new conditional formatting rules, edit rules, or delete rules.

Formatting types you can apply

When you select a conditional formatting rule, Excel displays a dialog box specific to that rule.

These dialog boxes have one thing in a common: a drop-down list with common formatting

suggestions.

Figure 20.2 shows the dialog box that appears when you choose Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional

Formatting ➪ Highlight Cells Rules ➪ Between. This particular rule applies the formatting if the

value in the cell falls between two specified values. In this case, you enter the two values (or spec-

ify cell references), and then use choices from the drop-down list to set the type of formatting to

display if the condition is met.

FIGURE 20.2

One of several different conditional formatting dialog boxes.