Conditional Formatting of empty cells

[rookie7]

Is there anyway to use conditional formatting to do the following:

If a cell has value and a cell below it doesn't have value, then highlight both cells. However, as soon as the blank cells are not blank, then both cells would clear the highlight.

In the example below, cells A1 and A2 on column A would be highlighted. Cells B3 and B4 on column B would be high lighted. Whenever cell A2 is filled in, then the highlight would clear. This logic would apply from column A through column Z.

A1 Description 1         B1 Description 8
A2 blank cell           B2 Description 9
A3 Description 3         B3 Description 10
A4 Description 4         B4 blank cell

I tried using two conditional formattings (one to high light and one to clear) but doesn't seem to work. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[drsarao]

Hi,
Single conditional format should work.

1. Select all the cells you want to format, making sure that A1 is active cell.
2. Conditional Format-->"Formula is" --> =OR(A1="",A2="")
3. Format-->Patterns-->Some light pastel background color would do.


Note:
All last cells in rows will be per-force be highlighted!

 

[drsarao]

Hi,
Single conditional format should work.

1. Select all the cells you want to format, making sure that A1 is active cell.
2. Conditional Format-->"Formula is" --> =OR(A1="",A2="")
3. Format-->Patterns-->Some light pastel background color would do.


Note:
All last cells in rows will be per-force be highlighted!

 

[rookie7]

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for not being clear, but A1 and A2 (or A3 and A4, or B5 and B6, etc.) will always be a pair. So, if A1 and A2 have values, then both will not be highlighted. Using what you suggested would always highlight A2 if A3 is empty. I hope I make sense...I don't know how to add the table lines on here like some did.