I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.

Thanks
Karen

Hi Karenobrn,

You can also use Conditional Formatting to colour a cell if it's empty. A formula you might use to colour a cell depending on the
value in A1 is =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="".

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]


"Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:CDBAE245-E387-40E4-816A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
> in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
> possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
> there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.
>
> Thanks
> Karen
>

Ok...because I'm a newbie to all this...... where do I put such a
formula?....and why "A1" when the column I want this to occur in is column
J?...then where does the color come into play? how does it know what color?

Thanks for responding....

"macropod" wrote:

> Hi Karenobrn,
>
> You can also use Conditional Formatting to colour a cell if it's empty. A formula you might use to colour a cell depending on the
> value in A1 is =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="".
>
> --
> Cheers
> macropod
> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>
>
> "Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:CDBAE245-E387-40E4-816A-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
> > in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
> > possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
> > there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Karen
> >
>
>

Hi Karen,

The A1 reference was just for an example. For J1 you could use =J1="" or =Trim(J1)="".

As for where to use the formula, select the cell(s) you want the colour to apply to and use Format|Conditional Formatting, then
choose 'Formula is' from the dropdown and insert the formula, changing the cell reference to suit your requirements. If you've got a
range of cells that you want to shade on the basis of the contents of J1, then select all of them and replace 'J1' in the above
formulae with $J$1 (or your equivalent cell's address).

If you just want to colour the cell(s) you've selected, you don't even need a formula fo the conditional format - simply use
Format|Conditional Formatting with 'Cell value is', 'Equal to' and ="" in the end box. Note: Excel will insist on changing this to
='''''' when you click OK, so simply edit the conditional formatting formula again so that you end up with just ="".

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]


"Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:BD739D31-0CC7-4744-89FE-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ok...because I'm a newbie to all this...... where do I put such a
> formula?....and why "A1" when the column I want this to occur in is column
> J?...then where does the color come into play? how does it know what color?
>
> Thanks for responding....
>
> "macropod" wrote:
>
>> Hi Karenobrn,
>>
>> You can also use Conditional Formatting to colour a cell if it's empty. A formula you might use to colour a cell depending on the
>> value in A1 is =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="".
>>
>> --
>> Cheers
>> macropod
>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>
>>
>> "Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:CDBAE245-E387-40E4-816A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
>> > in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
>> > possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
>> > there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > Karen
>> >
>>
>>

How would I adjust this formula to color the contents of cell A1 if cell A3
is left empty?? (instead of coloring the same cell that is empty?)

"macropod" wrote:

> Hi Karenobrn,
>
> You can also use Conditional Formatting to colour a cell if it's empty. A formula you might use to colour a cell depending on the
> value in A1 is =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="".
>
> --
> Cheers
> macropod
> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>
>
> "Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:CDBAE245-E387-40E4-816A-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
> > in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
> > possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
> > there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Karen
> >
>
>

Simple - you use the same formula (ie =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="") while using Format|Conditional Formatting with cell A3 selected.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]


"FIRE GIRL" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:6F689001-CAB9-482A-8AAD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> How would I adjust this formula to color the contents of cell A1 if cell A3
> is left empty?? (instead of coloring the same cell that is empty?)
>
> "macropod" wrote:
>
>> Hi Karenobrn,
>>
>> You can also use Conditional Formatting to colour a cell if it's empty. A formula you might use to colour a cell depending on the
>> value in A1 is =A1="" or =Trim(A1)="".
>>
>> --
>> Cheers
>> macropod
>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>
>>
>> "Karenobrn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:CDBAE245-E387-40E4-816A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I would like to format a column so that if no data has been entered in a cell
>> > in that column then the cell would be colored or marked somehow. Is this
>> > possible? I have tried Conditional Formatting but it only colors the cell if
>> > there is data in that cell... I want to do the opposite.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > Karen
>> >
>>
>>