Excel 2010 Bible

Chapter 20: Visualizing Data Using Conditional Formatting

491

An icon set example

Figure 20.10 shows an example that uses an icon set. The symbols graphically depict the status of

each project, based on the value in column C.

On the CD
All the icon set examples in this section are available on the companion CD-ROM. The workbook is named
icon set examples.xlsx.

FIGURE 20.10

Using an icon set to indicate the status of projects.

By default, the symbols are assigned using percentiles. For a 3-symbol set, the items are grouped

into three percentiles. For a 4-symbol set, they’re grouped into four percentiles. And for a

5-symbol set, the items are grouped into five percentiles.

If you would like more control over how the icons are assigned, choose Home ➪ Styles ➪

Conditional Formatting ➪ Icon Sets ➪ More Rules to display the New Formatting Rule dialog box.

To modify an existing rule, choose Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional Formatting ➪ Manage Rules.

Then select the rule to modify and click the Edit Rule button.

Figure 20.11 shows how to modify the icon set rules such that only projects that are 100% com-

pleted get the check mark icons. Projects that are 0% completed get the X icon. All other projects

get no icon.

Figure 20.12 shows project status list after making this change.