Conditional formatting in Excel is used more often because of its useful characteristics. When you need to apply formats to the dataset, conditional formatting is used. Not only this, but you can even highlight the data in the sheet to identify the changes in cell values.
For beginners, conditional formatting sometimes could be complex and vague. For some users, this feature is not a favorite one that’s why often users tend to avoid it. However, this feature is not difficult at all. And it does not take much time. But do you know how to do conditional formatting in Excel? Let’s understand this in detail.
Conditional Formatting Overview
With conditional formatting, you can apply formatting by default such as icons, colors, and data bars. You can apply formatting to one or more cells and it all depends on the cell value. For this, you need to make a conditional formatting rule. Suppose, you have a value less than $2000, and the cell color is red. Once you apply this rule, you can easily find which cells have values less than $2000.
What is Conditional Formatting in Excel?
When you need to apply particular formatting to data that matches one or more conditions, conditional formatting is then used. Similar to standard formatting, you can highlight as well as distinguish data in several ways since it changes the fill color, font color, and border styles of a cell. Generally, this feature is much more dynamic and supple. Conditional formatting is updated by default once the data is changed to reflect the changes.
You can apply conditional formatting to individual cells or entire rows on the bases of the value given in the formatted cell. Preset rules are used to apply conditional format on your data and these rules include data bars, icon sets, color scales, or even you can personalize rules.
How to Do Conditional Formatting in Excel (Highlighting Text)
When you intend to highlight text by using conditional formatting, it simply shows that you need to divert the attention of the users to the cells containing relevant data. You can follow the steps given below to add one of the rules used in conditional formatting:
- Select all the cells in which the text is needed to highlight.
- Here in this example, we will select all cells in column B.
- Open the Home tab and choose the Conditional Formatting option.
- Place the cursor over the “Highlight Cells Rules” option and choose the “Text that Contains” option.
- A dialog box will appear in which you need to add the text that needed to be highlighted in the left field.
- You will instantly notice the conditional formatting is applied as you enter the text.
- The formatting you notice will be standard but you can make changes to it the way you need.
- For this, click on the drop-down arrow given in the right field and choose another formatting preset.
- Or else, you can make a new format by clicking on the custom format.
- Once you click on the Custom Format, you will see a Format Cells dialog box. This dialog box is a normal one as you have applied formatting in a sheet. You can choose whatever formatting style you need.
All set!
Now, you will see all the selected cells are under the effect of the conditional formatting you have applied.
That’s it!
That’s all, now what comes next?
You understand how to do conditional formatting in Excel. Basically, conditional formatting is an important part of the Excel tool that does not need instructions once you create it properly. It by default reviews the cell and responds accordingly.
