How to compare adjacent cells using Conditional Formatting icon sets in Excel?
When comparing two columns of data in Excel, Conditional Formatting icon sets can provide a clear visual representation of the comparison. For instance, an up arrow icon can indicate that column B is greater than column A, a down arrow can show that column B is less than column A, and a right arrow can represent equality between the two, as shown in the screenshot. This guide will walk you through how to set up these icon sets quickly and easily.
Compare adjacent column cells with Conditional Formatting icon set in Excel
Compare adjacent rows cells with Conditional Formatting icon set in Excel
Compare adjacent column cells with Conditional Formatting icon set in Excel
If you have two columns of data and want to compare adjacent cells using Conditional Formatting icon sets, follow these steps:
1. Enter this formula: =IF(A2>B2, 0, IF(A2<B2, 2,1)) into a blank cell beside your data, and drag the fill handle down to the cells which you want to fill the formula, see screenshot:
2. Then select the formula cells, and click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule, see screenshot:
3. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, do the following operations:
(1) Click Format all cells based on their values option in the Select a Rule Type list box;
(2) In the Format Style drop-down list, choose Icon Sets, and then select 3 Arrows icon from the Icon Style;
(3) Check Show Icon Only option;
(4) Change the values and type, please change the Type to Number separately. In the first line, change the Value to 2, and in the second line, change the Value to 1.
4. After finishing the settings in the dialog box, and click OK button, you will get the result as you want, see screenshot:
Compare adjacent rows cells with Conditional Formatting icon set in Excel
If you have a list of numbers, to compare them row by row, the following steps may help.
1. Enter this formula: =SIGN($A3-$A2) into adjacent cell B3, and then drag the fill handle down to the cells you want to use, see screenshot:
2. Keep selecting the formula cells, and then go to the New Formatting Type dialog box, do the following operations:
(1) Click Format all cells based on their values option in the Select a Rule Type list box;
(2) In the Format Style drop-down list, choose Icon Sets, and then select 3 Arrows icon from the Icon Style;
(3) Check Show Icon Only option;
(4) Change the values and type, please change the Type to Number separately, and in the first line, select > sign from the drop-down, and change the Value to 0, in the second line, change the Value to 0 as well.
3. Then click OK button, and the appropriate icon set is now applied to the cells. See screenshot:
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