Help with format painter and conditional format

[LiveUser]

I have a conditional format in C2. I have a bunch of columns that I want this
same format to apply to, but whenever I do the condional format formula never
changes. It will change If I copy down the same column, but not if I copy to
different columns.

For instance, C2 will change color depending if it will match with C1. I
want D2 to do the same with D1.

When I use the format painter the format does not work in column D and Cell
C1 will now color all cells in the row rather than the one cell, itself.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Tom Hutchins]

Your conditional format changes the color of C2 if the value of C2 is the
same as C1? Does your conditional formatting 'Formula Is" look like this?
=(C2=$C$1)

If it does, the absolute reference to C1 is your problem. That would explain
why you can use Format Painter to apply it to cells in the same column but
not other columns. If you want it to always look at row 1, change it to:
=(C2=C$1)

If you want it to always look at the cell above, use: =(C2=C1)

Hope this helps,

Hutch

 

[LiveUser]

Thank you.

Your conditional format changes the color of C2 if the value of C2 is the
same as C1? Does your conditional formatting 'Formula Is" look like this?
=(C2=$C$1)

If it does, the absolute reference to C1 is your problem. That would explain
why you can use Format Painter to apply it to cells in the same column but
not other columns. If you want it to always look at row 1, change it to:
=(C2=C$1)

If you want it to always look at the cell above, use: =(C2=C1)

Hope this helps,

Hutch