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Excel Formatting Topics on Contextures

Format worksheet cells manually, to identify data entry or formula cells. Or, use conditional formatting, to automatically highlight key values on a worksheet, based on rules that you set.

Less Than dialog box with default settings

Cell Formatting

These tutorials show how use cell formatting in your workbooks.

Worksheet -- Quick cell formattiing tips for Microsoft Excel. Show / hide floating mini toolbars. Hide right-click mini toolbar. Create color spectrum across cells. Details on the Cell Formatting Tips page.

	Dates -- How to change date format in Excel worksheet. Use quick format, or choose from built-in date formats, or create custom date format with text codes. Details on the Change Date Format in Excel page.
	Troubleshoot -- How to find and fix formula cells on Excel worksheet, use cell colour to help with troubleshooting. Details on the Find and Fix Formulas page.
	Text Box -- Use Excel textbox to show instructions on a worksheet. Set shape formatting to auto resize textbox, wrap text. Macro changes settings for all textboxes. Details on the TextBox Formatting Tips page.

Conditional Formatting - Basics

These tutorials show how use conditional formatting in your workbooks.

Examples -- Easy steps show how to use Excel conditional formatting to highlight cells automatically, based on rules you set. Examples, workbook, video, quick tips. Details on the Conditional Formatting Intro page.

	Numbers -- How to highlight top or bottom numbers in Excel lists. Highlight winning numbers in list of lottery tickets Videos, Excel file. Details on the Excel Highlight Numbers page.
	Duplicates -- How to highlight duplicate values in Excel lists. Colour duplicate records entire row. Hide duplicate labels in worksheet reports. Details on the Highlight Duplicate Values page.
	Row -- Highlight entire row in Excel based on one cell value. Video, written steps, Excel file. See how to set or change conditional formatting rules for cell colour. Details on the Format Entire Row page.

Data Bars, Color Scales, Icon Sets

These tutorials show the built-in conditional formatting features, for data bars, color scales and icon sets.

Data Bars -- How to create and format data bars in Excel, to show in-cell charts. Details on the Data Bars page.

	Color Scale -- Quickly highlight low and high numbers with a conditional formatting color scale, 2-color or 3-color. Temperatures red-white-blue. Pivot Table color scales. Details on the Conditional Formatting Color Scales page.
	Icon Sets -- Use Excel conditional formatting icon sets to show changes up or down, good or bad numbers, and visual ratings or warnings, in your Excel reports and dashboards. Details on the Icon Sets page.
	Custom Icons -- Create Excel custom icon sets in conditional formatting. Pick different icons or no icons. Change number setting for high low icons. Use formula icon sets. Details on the Create Excel Custom Icon Sets Conditional Formatti page.

Conditional Formatting - Advanced

These tutorials show advanced conditional formatting techniques, to use in your workbooks.

Examples -- Excel conditional formatting formula examples. Highlight expiry date, colour cells if duplicate, hide if formula error, color lottery numbers. 20+ examples. Details on the Conditional Formatting Formula Examples page.

	Duplicate Rules -- Fix Excel conditional formatting problems when extra rules are automatically created. How to remove duplicate rules and prevent them from happening. Details on the Fix Conditional Formatting Rules page.
	Golf -- Get this free Excel golf scores workbook to track your golf scores all season. View annual totals, averages, best, worst scores. Single or multi player. Details on the Excel Golf Scores Workbook page.
	Currency -- See how to use Excel conditional formatting to automatically change currency symbol in worksheet numbers. Short video, written steps, free workbook. Details on the Conditional Format Currency Symbols page.

	Colour -- Select colour name from drop down list. Next cell fills with selected colour. No macros, just data validation drop downs and conditional formatting rules. Details on the Conditional Formatting Show List page.
	Macro -- Conditional formatting macro lists all cells and format rules, plus cell Font and Fill colour numbers. Free Excel workbook with example. Details on the Excel Conditional Formatting Documenter Macro page.
	Christmas Tree -- How to decorate a Christmas Tree in Excel with Scroll Bar, no macros. Add lights, tinsel, star, gifts. Show custom messages beside tree. Details on the Scroll Bar Christmas Tree page.

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