Excel question - help with formula.

[OAITW r.2.0]

I used this a few years ago, but have forgotten the formula.

Here's what I want to do-

if the calculated cell returns a pos#, turn font color green, if negative, return font collar read.


If you happen to have the formula, a cut and paste in reply - that would be greatly appreciated.

[Tetrachloride]

1. Format is the way

https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/5853-excel-red-if-negative-green-if-positive.html

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Perfect answer!

Yeah, this is the way to go. thanks so much...copied the article for reference.


On edit: Do you remember carbon tetrachloride? Knew him in the early 70's. Had a summer factory job cleaning metal parts with CT. Lots of open vats for dunking and pressurized spray booths on a volume application basis. The area would be pretty hazy on a summer night. Skin absorbed a lot, I think.

I believe he is no longer actively used in the cleaning business.

[Tetrachloride]

7. My char name is a word play has lost relevance. But i kept it anyway

))

from a couple decades ago originally

[hunter]

13. My grandma always had a big bottle carbon tetrachloride in her laundry room...

... to remove grease from my grandfather's clothes after he'd been working on his cars and other mad scientist inventions.

When I was working in industry they used trichloroethylene (TCE). One place I worked went through barrels of the stuff. It was one of the reasons I quit that job after a few weeks. The smell wouldn't go away, even on weekends. I don't know if that was psychosomatic or if I was simply saturated with it. Some of my coworkers liked the smell. Maybe it gave them a buzz.

TCE was an environmental disaster.

[intrepidity]

3. I have a related question if anyone happens to know

(I used to be quite adept at excel many years ago, but don't know the current state of the application)

Using the OP's example, what does the "formula" or "function" within the cell look like?

eg, something like (I realize syntax/etc is not correct)

=IF(range|value)>1, THEN(font color); IFNOT then fontcolor

can someone who uses it look to see what the actual entry says? TIA

[MacKasey]

8. Look at link

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/using-if-with-and-or-and-not-functions-d895f58c-b36c-419e-b1f2-5c193a236d97

You just need commas, no then or if it then

[intrepidity]

10. It all comes rushing back

thanks for the link. Boy, I really enjoyed working in excel, making those complicated formulas, then simplifying them into finely tuned spreadsheets. One of the most satisfying types of work I've engaged in.

[Hoyt]

4. Sorry, duplicate post.

[Hoyt]

5. I forget formulas too. I usually end up sorting on the result and changing the font color.

Then resort to original. Takes less time than looking up a forgotten formula.

I admire Excel gurus who know all the secrets.

[underpants]

6. Oh worlds are colliding

DU and excel. I live in excel at work. Thanks. This is great.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. Don't consider myself a power user by any stretch, but I got hooked on LOTUS 1-2-3

(DOS) back in the mid-80's. Loved working with spreadsheets and what if modeling. If there was 1 pc of business software that is essential, I think it is Excel. I can word process / powerpoint / database / spreadsheet with this app. It's like the swiss army knife of business tools.

It would be nice to get an Excel sub-forum established. Didn't really see a great fit in the sub-forums offered for my OP....I bet it would be a popular visiting site on DU.

[underpants]

11. Don't play God with DU

With the brainpower here on DU an excel specific forum could turn towards the dark side.

Just kidding of course.

[intrepidity]

12. I'd subscribe

I agree fully with your assessment about excel's utility. Also a veteran of 80's software...

[canetoad]

14. Conditional formatting

Sounds like what you need.

Find it in the format menu. If value is greater than or equal to ......colour greeen.

You can also use the format cell menu to make negative numbers red.