Permanent backgroud colors

[RexcelG]

I have color pattern on a worksheet and I want the color to stay there permanently.

Every 5 rows I has a color background assigned to it.
I enter about 10 random names.
I, then, want the names to be put in alphabetical order.
I click vAZ to get the names in alphabetical order, but now, the colors are scattered.
I want the colors to just stay where they were in the beginning (blank the first 5 rows, gray the second 5 rows).

Is this possible?

 

[Gerald Higgins]

Probably, if you use Conditional Formating, and the ROW function.

 

[Gerald Higgins]

More specifically, try this.
Assumes your data is in Col A, starting on row 1.
Conditional Formating,
Formula is

=if((roundup(row(a1)/5,0))=odd(row(a1)/5),false,true)

and format as grey background, or whatever.

 

[RexcelG]

I can see the color changes every 5 rows, but how am I able to input my information.

 

[Gerald Higgins]

I don't understand - you just enter your information in whatever way you normally do - type it in, or paste it in (although don't paste formats !)

Have you used Conditional Formating before ? Are you worried that the formula I gave you will fill up the cell, leaving no room for data ? Don't worry, that's not how CF works - you enter the formula in the CF dialogue box, and this leaves the cell itself empty for you to enter whatever you like.