coloring a cell if blank

[Karenobrn]

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

 

[macropod]

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)="".

 

[Karenobrn]

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....

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]

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

 

[macropod]

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]

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....

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]

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

 

[FIRE GIRL]

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?)

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]

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

 

[macropod]

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]

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?)

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]

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