In the conditional formatting, how to make the first column of data meet the date conditions, the same row of data will show the background color.
For "Apply to range", you specify the entire range of cells you want to potentially be highlighted. Then, use a custom formula that refers to the exact cell in the first row of the range that you want to deal with, and google sheets will infer the rest of the rows. In your example, set range equal to A2:D20, and the custom formula to =$A2<TODAY().
I have a macro that creates a separate workbook from a larger document. The number of columns vary on how much data is entered. I would like to add an autofilter to only the currently used columns but every time I add an autofilter I have to put in a range and the range varies. Is there a way to write in the code to only add the filter arrow on the applicable columns and not all of them that could possibly be shown? We are sending the document out to a customer and have to manually unfilter the blank boxes which we would prefer not to do.
Thanks!
Turn your data into an Excel Table using the Ctrl + T keyboard shortcut. These have the autofilter built in, and it automatically gets applied to any new columns in the Table, because Tables expand automatically to accommodate any new data.
Furthermore, because Tables are basically Named Ranges that Excel maintains on your behalf, it is very easy to identify the ranges concerned in VBA, as per my answer at VBA coding to identify and clear data in a specific table
I have a spreadsheet, where I'd like to drag down a particular index/match formula, but where the formula does not return a value, I'd like it to keep the formula that is already in place (which sums up a few of the items below it).
I know that you could just use the cell reference for the if_error part of the formula, but this would return the value of the cell as it is now, and wouldn't use the current formula to generate a new value based on the values returned by the index match formula.
I have attached pictures below. Basically, I want to leave the sum formulas as is, but just be able to drag down that first index formula (the actual spreadsheet I'm dealing with has many different spaces, and is very long, otherwise I'd just copy the formula manually).
If this isn't possible, are there any other solutions? Another thing I tried was for each index/match that didn't return a value, I had it return the formula as a string, and then I'd copy/paste special with values, replace the column in the formula that is a string to the column I'm looking for, and then it would evaluate the formula that was, before, a string. But then you lose the formulas for all the other cells.
So the issue is that some cells are used to sum, and I don't want to drag the formula over those cells, but at the same time, I do need to use the formula over the whole range, otherwise it would just take too long.
Once you put a formula in G1, the previous formula in that cell is no longer available, so referencing G1 in your new formula would just produce a circular reference.
Instead think of a formula that combines both formulas into one: it should detect in which situation it is and then perform the appropriate calculation.
In your case, I think this formula will do what you want:
=IFERROR(INDEX($M$3:$M$9, MATCH(F1,$L$3:$L$9)), IF(E1="", "", SUM(G2:G4)))
Put it in cell G1 and copy it down.
Note how it looks at column E to decide whether it should do the sum. I also adapted a bit the part you already had, by making some references absolute (adding some $), because the area in the L and M columns is positioned at fixed rows.
Add a helper column in row H for your Index-Match formula and copy it all the way down. Then, in row I do an if statement. If row H meets the criteria you want, do that, else use row G.
So I think I found a good solution, especially in the case where you are going to be using the spreadsheet over and over, and the format won't change much. This might be too specific for anyone to use, but posting it just in case someone gets some use out of it.
First I created two macros, one to hide the sum rows, and another to unhide all the sum rows. I got the sum rows from another column by copying all the formulas across to the new column I'm looking at. Numbers will of course be wrong, but the sum formulas will be what we want to keep. You can speed this up by finding "sum" in formulas and then selecting all of the results.
Next, use the macro which hides all the sum rows.
Next, create the index formula in the first row. Control shift down to select all rows beneath. Then, "find", and "go to special" and select "only visible cells", and then hit F2, and control enter, and this will copy the formula down to all the visible cells, ie the non-sum cells.
Then use your unhide macro, and it should be golden!
You can use this technique for any spreadsheet where the source data format is different from target, and where you have fixed formulas in the target which you always will need.
can you tell me how I can group rows using a value in a specific cell and then highlight the individual groups by alternate colours i.e. one group with white background and one group with a colour in excel? I have macro code which inserts a blank line but I don't know how to colour using macro.
You don't need a macro, just run conditional formatting for values equal to the value of the group you are using.
Here is an excellent guide for how to highlight a row using conditional formatting. It does exactly what you asked for without having to write any code. As you can see it works for multiple rows sharing the common set value.
This is assuming that the only reason you wanted them grouped in the first place was for colouring them together, this method is best if you want to preserve the order of your data.
Let's say I have 2 columns that I'm comparing data in. If both cells match I want both cells to turn green. If they don't match I want them to turn yellow. Is there a formula that will allow me to check this for multiple records, or would this require looping in VBA? I can only seem to make this work 1 record at a time using conditional formatting. Thanks!
Edit: Adding results from provided answer
You can use conditional formatting, but you'll have to format each of the two columns separately.
Say your data is in A2:B100 (for simplicity)
Select the cells in columnA (A2:A100)
Select conditional Formatting >> New Rule >> Use a formula...
Enter the formula "=A3<>B3", choose a format and click OK
Repeat on column B.