Using formula in conditional formatting not working

GeneDi

New Member
Joined
May 22, 2006
Messages
3
Hi everybody,

Can anyone put to bed the question of "Is there a bug in Excel 2007" where using a formula in conditional formatting doesn't work?

Using the Rule Type "Format only cells that contain" works fine but when using the Rule Type "Use a formula to determine which cells to format" doesn't work.

If you try to format cell C15, lets say bold and red, when it equals C14 (using: Cell Value, Between, = $C$14, and, =$C$14) works fine.

But,

If you try to format using formula =$C$14, any entry in C15 is red and bold.

Thanks,

Gene
 

Excel Facts

Ambidextrous Undo
Undo last command with Ctrl+Z or Alt+Backspace. If you use the Undo icon in the QAT, open the drop-down arrow to undo up to 100 steps.
Welcome to the board..

it's not a bug.

When using a formula in conditional formatting, you have to write some kind of expression that returns true or false (or any number other than 0).
A conditional formatting formula DOES NOT assume you want to test the value of the cell the CF formula is entered in.
You have to write it explicitly.

When you use the Cell Value Is options, it DOES assume you want to test the value in the cell with the Conditional Formatting.

Simply writing =$C$14 in a conditional formatting formula in C15,
that IS NOT comparing C14 to C15.
Say you have a number 15 in C14
And your conditional formatting formula for C15 is =$C$14
That simply takes the value of C14, and your CF formula is now =14
14 IS a number other than 0, so CF considers it TRUE and formats the cell.

You would have to write

=C15=$C$14

This will now compare the value in C15 to the value in C14 and return TRUE or FALSE.


Hope that helps.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
I doubt there's a bug.
Try:
=C15=$C$14

Any CF formula should return True or False (or numeric equivalent of True/False)
 
Upvote 0
Try

=$C$15=$C$14

Using only
=$C$14
it returns TRUE if any number, except 0 (zero), exists in C14

HTH

M.
 
Upvote 0

Forum statistics

Threads
1,214,921
Messages
6,122,280
Members
449,075
Latest member
staticfluids

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top