In Excel 2010, users are provided with extensive options for conditional formatting (based on numbers, percentages, formulas, percentiles), which allows for visually highlighting entered values using color scales, icon sets, and other formatting features.
The Conditional Formatting Rules Manager window , used to set constraints and manage formatting rules, can be opened as follows: go to the Home tab on the Ribbon, in the Styles group, click the dropdown for Conditional Formatting, and select Manage Rules.
Conditional formatting offers the following capabilities:
- A simplified procedure for creating custom formats.
- A wide selection of formatting elements.
- The ability to specify multiple conditions in one format.
- Conditions can be based on custom formulas that return logical TRUE/FALSE values.
- You can choose whether to check the value in a cell or the result of a formula.
- When comparing with cell values, you can use either numbers or references to other cells.
Conditional formats are especially valuable for error control and data analysis.
