shade or color cells based on another cell

[exceltadpole]

cell a12 has random number between 1 and 10
cells a1 to a10 need to have a background color depending on that random number

Examples:
* if a12 contains 3 then a1 to a3 should automatically have a gray background color
* if a12 contains 9 then a1 to a9 should automatically have a gray background color

The non-affected cells in this range have no background color (or the default background color)?
How would you do that with some kind of formula/function ... ?

 

[Smitty]

Check out Conditional Formatting in the helpfile.

You can use the "Format only cells that contain" option where Cell Value-->Equal to-->3-->Format and repeat.

HTH,