Can you count colors?

ggombas

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
9
Is it possible to count the number of fields that are shaded a certain color?

Lets say you have:

Red
Green
Yellow
Red

Is there a formula to count the number of red boxes?

Thanks
 

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Check this link <a href="http://www.cpearson.com/excel/colors.htm"</a>.
 
Upvote 0
Thanks again guys.
I read the link but am not sure where to paste the function...
I have not done any vbs scripting before.
Also how do I tell excel where to find this custom function?
 
Upvote 0
Good afternoon ggombas

Alternatively, download my add-in via the link below. Once installed you will have some new formulae available to use.

=CountCellCol(A1:A10,6)
=CountFontCol(A1:A10,6)

Full instructions are included. You do need to know the ColorIndex number of the colour, but a function is provided for that also.

HTH

DominicB
 
Upvote 0
Seems like a nearly daily question. Does anyone use the search facility.

For the record, you can do via formula if you want/need. No need for code, though a code approach has advantages.

Fazza
 
Upvote 0
Formulae don't do colours - how would you do it via formula?

Like I posted yesterday and last week! But, no need to search, as you write, it isn't used. :LOL:

Formulae don't do colours. And the other one I see often (nearly daily), is you can't wipe out the ghost old values from pivot table field lists. Posting "how to" on these sometimes seems a waste of time. Still, we're all here to learn and I'm also keen to teach.

For cell shading, using an old Excel 4 function in a defined name. GET.CELL. Seeing you asked, I'll post a full listing from Help on the function. There are some handy little items there for the odd instance when VBA is not preferred.

Say the shaded cell is A1. Then if you are in cell B1 (because we'll end up with a relative formula) and add a defined name (short cut CTRL-F3) say MyColor and formula in the "Refers to" =GET.CELL(63,Sheet1!A1)

Now in cell B1 enter =MyColor Shortcut via F3

And anywhere else you want the cell color including in a formula use MyColor

It isn't volatile. And doesn't work on conditional format shading. ALT-F9 forces an update.

You can obviously use the formula in a suitable column and then SUMIF or pivot or SQL or ADO or whatever on it. As you can see, there are many things that can be done in a similar way. For playing, don't put the 63 hard coded in the defined name but link it to a cell.

Hope this was of interest. Keep excelling.

Cheers,
Fazza

Below here copied from Excel 4 help>>>>>>>>>>>

Macro Sheets Only
Returns information about the formatting, location, or contents of a cell. Use GET.CELL in a macro whose behavior is determined by the status of a particular cell.

Syntax

GET.CELL(type_num, reference)

Type_num is a number that specifies what type of cell information you want. The following list shows the possible values of type_num and the corresponding results.

Type_num Returns

1 Absolute reference of the upper-left cell in reference, as text in the current workspace reference style.
2 Row number of the top cell in reference.
3 Column number of the leftmost cell in reference.
4 Same as TYPE(reference).
5 Contents of reference.
6 Formula in reference, as text, in either A1 or R1C1 style depending on the workspace setting.
7 Number format of the cell, as text (for example, "m/d/yy" or "General").
8 Number indicating the cell's horizontal alignment:
1 = General
2 = Left
3 = Center
4 = Right
5 = Fill
6 = Justify
7 = Center across cells

9 Number indicating the left-border style assigned to the cell:
0 = No border
1 = Thin line
2 = Medium line
3 = Dashed line
4 = Dotted line
5 = Thick line
6 = Double line
7 = Hairline
10 Number indicating the right-border style assigned to the cell. See type_num 9 for descriptions of the numbers returned.
11 Number indicating the top-border style assigned to the cell. See type_num 9 for descriptions of the numbers returned.
12 Number indicating the bottom-border style assigned to the cell. See type_num 9 for descriptions of the numbers returned.

13 Number from 0 to 18, indicating the pattern of the selected cell as displayed in the Patterns tab of the Format Cells dialog box, which appears when you choose the Cells command from the Format menu. If no pattern is selected, returns 0.
14 If the cell is locked, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
15 If the cell's formula is hidden, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
16 A two-item horizontal array containing the width of the active cell and a logical value indicating whether the cell's width is set to change as the standard width changes (TRUE) or is a custom width (FALSE).

17 Row height of cell, in points.
18 Name of font, as text.
19 Size of font, in points.
20 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are bold, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
21 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are italic, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
22 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are underlined, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
23 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are struck through, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.

24 Font color of the first character in the cell, as a number in the range 1 to 56. If font color is automatic, returns 0.
25 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are outlined, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE. Outline font format is not supported by Microsoft Excel for Windows.
26 If all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are shadowed, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE. Shadow font format is not supported by Microsoft Excel for Windows.

27 Number indicating whether a manual page break occurs at the cell:
0 = No break
1 = Row
2 = Column
3 = Both row and column
28 Row level (outline).
29 Column level (outline).
30 If the row containing the active cell is a summary row, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
31 If the column containing the active cell is a summary column, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
32 Name of the workbook and sheet containing the cell If the window contains only a single sheet that has the same name as the workbook without its extension, returns only the name of the book, in the form BOOK1.XLS. Otherwise, returns the name of the sheet in the form "[Book1]Sheet1".

33 If the cell is formatted to wrap, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
34 Left-border color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.
35 Right-border color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.
36 Top-border color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.
37 Bottom-border color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.
38 Shade foreground color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.

39 Shade background color as a number in the range 1 to 56. If color is automatic, returns 0.
40 Style of the cell, as text.
41 Returns the formula in the active cell without translating it (useful for international macro sheets).
42 The horizontal distance, measured in points, from the left edge of the active window to the left edge of the cell. May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.
43 The vertical distance, measured in points, from the top edge of the active window to the top edge of the cell. May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.

44 The horizontal distance, measured in points, from the left edge of the active window to the right edge of the cell. May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.
45 The vertical distance, measured in points, from the top edge of the active window to the bottom edge of the cell. May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.
46 If the cell contains a text note, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
47 If the cell contains a sound note, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.

48 If the cells contains a formula, returns TRUE; if a constant, returns FALSE.
49 If the cell is part of an array, returns TRUE; otherwise, returns FALSE.
50 Number indicating the cell's vertical alignment:
1 = Top
2 = Center
3 = Bottom
4 = Justified
51 Number indicating the cell's vertical orientation:
0 = Horizontal
1 = Vertical
2 = Upward
3 = Downward
52 The cell prefix (or text alignment) character, or empty text ("") if the cell does not contain one.

53 Contents of the cell as it is currently displayed, as text, including any additional numbers or symbols resulting from the cell's formatting.
54 Returns the name of the PivotTable containing the active cell.
55 Returns the position of a cell within the PivotTable.
0 = Row header
1 = Column header
2 = Page header
3 = Data header
4 = Row item
5 = Column item
6 = Page item
7 = Data item
8 = Table body
56 Returns the name of the field containing the active cell reference if inside a PivotTable.

57 Returns TRUE if all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are formatted with a superscript font; otherwise, returns FALSE.
58 Returns the font style as text of all the characters in the cell, or only the first character as displayed in the Font tab of the Format Cells dialog box: for example, "Bold Italic".
59 Returns the number for the underline style:
1 = None
2 = Single
3 = Double
4 = Single accounting
5 = Double accounting
60 Returns TRUE if all the characters in the cell, or only the first character, are formatted with a subscript font; otherwise, it returns FALSE.

61 Returns the name of the PivotTable item for the active cell, as text.
62 Returns the name of the workbook and the current sheet in the form "[Book1]Sheet1".
63 Returns the fill (background) color of the cell.
64 Returns the pattern (foreground) color of the cell.
65 Returns TRUE if the Add Indent alignment option is on (Far East versions of Microsoft Excel only); otherwise, it returns FALSE.
66 Returns the book name of the workbook containing the cell in the form BOOK1.XLS.

Reference is a cell or a range of cells from which you want information.

If reference is a range of cells, the cell in the upper-left corner of the first range in reference is used.
If reference is omitted, the active cell is assumed.

Tip Use GET.CELL(17) to determine the height of a cell and GET.CELL(44) - GET.CELL(42) to determine the width.

Examples

The following macro formula returns TRUE if cell B4 on sheet Sheet1 is bold:

GET.CELL(20, Sheet1!$B$4)


You can use the information returned by GET.CELL to initiate an action. The following macro formula runs a custom function named BoldCell if the GET.CELL formula returns FALSE:

IF(GET.CELL(20, Sheet1!$B$4), , BoldCell())


Related Functions

ABSREF Returns the absolute reference of a range of cells to another range
ACTIVE.CELL Returns the reference of the active cell
GET.FORMULA Returns the contents of a cell
GET.NAME Returns the definition of a name
GET.NOTE Returns characters from a note
RELREF Returns a relative reference
 
Upvote 0
Hi Fazza

Now that is interesting.. And thanks for taking the time to search, 'cos I couldn't be bothered :oops: .

Code:
And doesn't work on conditional format shading.
No, and it's pretty difficult using VBA to get conditional format colours - CFs a bit of an oddity in itself.

Thanks again for the lesson!

DominicB

Edit
PS Have you just changed your location?
 
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