Highlight some cells in a row automatically

[ExcelHelpPlease]

Hi All,

Can someone help me highlight columns A to AR grey, in individual rows, if I type '/ into column B?

I found a some instructions online using conditonal formatting, but I can't make it work 😪

Thank you!

[BreadInCaptivity]

Sorry I'm not clear re your distinctions between rows and columns.

A to AR vs column B can you clarify?

Presume Excel.

[ExcelHelpPlease]

Thank you, I can set the conditional formatting for one cell if I type something specific in it, but I want it to grey out specific cells in the row if I type '/ into a column.

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

You need to highlight the whole row first. Then conditional formatting. Then "text that contains...". Then you set up the rule.

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves

You need to highlight the whole row first. Then conditional formatting. Then "text that contains...". Then you set up the rule.

Thanks but that still isn't working and I only want part of the row greyed out, to the end ofmy spreadsheet, I don't like 'overhang' of the colour inot the unused part.

[ExcelHelpPlease]

This is what I need to format somehow

[OliveHenry]

Try this - I formatted all cells in the selection with the same conditional formatting rule.

In the formula you need to use $B to fix it so it always looks at column B. But don't fix the row num (so leave as 1 not $1) so that the formula follows the rows.

Hope that makes sense!

[ExcelHelpPlease]

Say this is my spreadsheet, if i type '/ into column B I want A-F of row 3 to grey out automatically.

[Namechangingagain111]

This helped me:
www.excel-university.com/excel-conditional-formatting-based-on-another-cell/

I think you need to select all the cells that you want to conditionally format, then put this into the formula
=B2="/"
good luck !

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@BreadInCaptivity

Sorry I'm not clear re your distinctions between rows and columns.

A to AR vs column B can you clarify?

Presume Excel.

Sorry, yes excel

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

Don't go into that bit where you have to create a new rule. Use the "highlight cells rules" option at the top.

If you don't want the whole row, just highlight all of the cells that you want the rule to apply to.

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@Namechangingagain111

This helped me:
www.excel-university.com/excel-conditional-formatting-based-on-another-cell/

I think you need to select all the cells that you want to conditionally format, then put this into the formula
=B2="/"
good luck !

Thanks, I'm looking at that now, but its very wordy. I normally google what I want to do and find a formula or macro thing to c&p and edit, but none of thjis is clear what I should edit.

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

Oh I see, I have just realised what you are asking. You want the adjacent cells to go grey as well? Sorry, I don't know how to do that!

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves

Don't go into that bit where you have to create a new rule. Use the "highlight cells rules" option at the top.

If you don't want the whole row, just highlight all of the cells that you want the rule to apply to.

I want it to apply to all the rows though, not just one.

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves

Oh I see, I have just realised what you are asking. You want the adjacent cells to go grey as well? Sorry, I don't know how to do that!

😁Yes, I can do individual ones, I just cant get the whole (selection of) row to do it.

[BreadInCaptivity]

Is this what you want?

A1 to AR 1 are red because I have "hello" in B1

[BreadInCaptivity]

Ignore the red and hello for now - I know you want grey and '/

[BreadInCaptivity]

So this?

[BreadInCaptivity]

Got it:

The formula you need is:
=$B$2:$F$6

For the example you gave.

[BreadInCaptivity]

Here:

[BreadInCaptivity]

@ExcelHelpPlease see above

[BreadInCaptivity]

I think the problem you are having is because you are using /

When you type into the cell it's '/

But in the formula you need to use "/"

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

@BreadInCaptivity, I love people who are good at Excel!@

[ExcelHelpPlease]

@BreadInCaptivity Thank you! Thats exactly what I want, I'm just in a teams call so will try it after.

[BreadInCaptivity]

No problem 😌