Conditional formatting with dates

[Met Fan]

I have a column with dates in them and want to change the color of the cells when they reach a certain date. I set up the formatting so that it changes if the cell value is less than or equal to todays date (referencing =Today() in a seperate cell. This works fine, but it also formats any blank cells. How can I set it up so that the formatting only occurs in the cells with values? I highlighted the entire column when I set up the conditional formatting so that I wouldn't have to keep adding it as I added rows of data.

Thanks.

 

[babycody]

formula is in conditional format with this formula
=AND(A1<=$D$1,A1>0)
D1 contains the formaula =TODAY() Conditional formats are volatile (they recalculate everytime a change is made). You shouldn't use more than what you need. Volatile items in your spreadsheet will slow calculation time down.

 

[Met Fan]

Now everything is formatted even the blank cells. I want the conditional formatting to apply only to the cells with data.

 

[babycody]

Here is an example of what should have happened. The formulas in column B are just there so you can see the results of the formula. I'm not sure why it didn't work for you. I did a test as always before posting. You do have the dollar signs in the proper place? The results I got are the results you wanted right? If not help me understand your problem a little better.

Book4
	A	B	C	D
1	10/8/2006	TRUE		10/20/2006
2	10/9/2006	TRUE
3	10/10/2006	TRUE
4	10/11/2006	TRUE
5	10/12/2006	TRUE
6	10/13/2006	TRUE
7	10/14/2006	TRUE
8		FALSE
9	10/16/2006	TRUE
10	10/17/2006	TRUE
11	10/18/2006	TRUE
12	10/19/2006	TRUE
13	10/20/2006	TRUE
14	10/21/2006	FALSE
15		FALSE
16	10/23/2006	FALSE
17	10/24/2006	FALSE
18	10/25/2006	FALSE
Sheet2

 

[moneytastesbad]

I copied and pasted the formula suggested, and pasted it into conditional formating.

Worked for me.

Dates before today are highlighted, Dates after today are not, Blanks are not

 

[Met Fan]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to responding. this works fine now, when I was entering the conditional formatting I did not change it to Formula =, it was still on Cell = and that is why it didn't work.

Thanks alot for your help.