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AR15.COM
11/7/2008 1:08:39 PM EDT
The bean counters have made up an Excel spread sheet for some data collection I'm doing on the road.  They're all out of the office and I have a problem.  

They have it set up so if I enter "xxx (1)" in a cell, it will highlight orange, and "xxxx" will highlight green.  My problem is I've found I need to enter "xxx abc" or "xxx xyz" to denote something, and this text will not highlight the cell for me.

Anyone know how I can change this?  Is it a macro or something?  I'm not Office savvy in the least.
11/7/2008 1:12:40 PM EDT
[#1]
Usually I am pretty savvy with Excel, but Im not sure if I know how to properly fix that.  You may have to manually highlight the cell you need since there is little consistency of what you are typing in them.
11/7/2008 1:14:01 PM EDT
[#2]
It will be consistently xxx abc or xxx xyz, both of them need to highlight orange.  I just need those 2 options instead of the 1 option they gave me.
11/7/2008 1:20:08 PM EDT
[#3]
It sounds like they have conditional formatting on the cell. Click on the cell and go to Format-Conditional Formatting. A box should pop up showing if this is true. You should also have an option to add another condition. Click the "Add" button and set the condition "equal" to "*abc" or "*xyz" and select the appropriate color under the format button. The asterisk is just a wildcard so that whatever is entered before the abc or xyz doesn't matter. Let me know if this works for you or if you have any questions.

Matt

11/7/2008 1:22:53 PM EDT
[#4]
You are exactly right.  The only problem is I need more than 3 conditional probabilities and that isn't allowed.  Looks like I'll have to start a whole 'nother column.
11/7/2008 1:24:25 PM EDT
[#5]
I didn't know excel limited the number of conditions. That's one of those stupid excel limitations that make no sense. Good luck...
11/7/2008 1:24:26 PM EDT
[#6]
Yes, look at Format   Conditional Formatting

That got me too a few weeks ago.
11/7/2008 1:25:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Excel 2003 and before is limited to 3 conditions. I think Excel 2007 changed this.

You can get around the limit by programming it yourself in VBA which really isn't so bad. If you want to do that just reply and I can forward you some pages with good examples.
11/7/2008 1:29:49 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
You are exactly right.  The only problem is I need more than 3 conditional probabilities and that isn't allowed.  Looks like I'll have to start a whole 'nother column.


If you only need 4 conditions, and every cell will be populated, then you can format the column to some color first, then with the 3 conditions, you will have 4 colors.

GH
11/7/2008 1:46:49 PM EDT
[#9]
Not every cell is populated, this spreadsheet is used in the field as a hardcopy and then updated in the evening, a new hardcopy is generated every morning to make it easier on me.

It's ok, I appreciate the help.  Another column is no problem.  And it's even going to be in pretty colors now too.  They should have just given me crayons.