change the color of cell background based on a result

[Rich]

I would like to have the result of my function to change the color of the
cell in which the result is displayed.

For example:

1- if the value of cell A1 is less than or equal to the value of cell C2
then display the difference between cells C2 and A1 in cell D4 with a "green"
background.

or

2- if the value of cell A1 is greater than the value of cell C2 then display
the difference between cells C2 and A1 in cell D4 with a "red" background.

I can get the "IF" function to display the numeric value I want, but cannot
get the background shading to change with the perameters I specified above.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Chip Pearson]

A formula cannot change any type of cell formatting. It can only
return a value to the cell whence it was called. You can use
Conditional Formatting (from the Format menu) to change the formatting
of a cell based on the cell's value or based on the result of another
formula.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group, 1998 - 2009
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)

 

[Pete_UK]

A formula cannot affect the formatting in a cell - you do this with
conditional formatting. Select cell D4 and then click on Format |
Conditional Formatting. In the panel that pops up, select Formula Is
rather than Cell Value Is in the first box. In the next box you should
enter this formula:

=A1<=C2

Then click on the Format button, select the Patterns tab (for
background colour) and choose Green. Click OK and then Add to set up
your second condition. Select Formula Is as before, and use this
formula:

=A1>C2

Click the Format button and choose Red on the Patterns tab. Click OK
twice to exit the dialogue boxes.

Hope this helps.

Pete