conditional formatting adjacent cells

[Sketch]

I have some data in 10 columns where I want to change the data in the next
adjacent column to be coloured red if it is less or green if it is more than
the current column. The next column would then need to test the previous
column.
I want to check simply if the number has increased or decreased from the
previous figure.
In Excel 2003, I managed to do this by deleting $ sign in the cell
reference. Now I can't delete the $ sign. It is automatically added even when
I delete it.
Can you please help!

 

[Luke M]

Assuming your starting with column B. Select columns B through whatever.
Conditional format, Formula1 is:
=A1>B1
Format red
Formula2 is:
=A1<B1
Format green

If you type the formulas in directly, without using the arrow keys to
navigate, it should take.

 

[Eduardo]

Hi,
if you are in excel 2007
Position yourself in the column to be coloured, Conditional formating,
Highlight cells rules, less than, click in the first column, do it again but
choose greater than

 

[Sketch]

Thanks Luke M & Eduardo, works great!