using cell background color as basis for formula

[ken]

Anyone know of a way to use a background color in a
function such as an IF statement?

I have a spreadsheet keeping track of items where I use
yellow and transparent (white) to signify two
different "states". The cell may or may not contain text
or numbers. I would like to be able to count the cells
in a range that are yellow or not yellow.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

If the background colour is from conditional formatting you can use the same
conditions in the formula,
if not see:

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/colors.htm

you would need to use VBA to do that, the above link has some examples
that you can use

 

[ken]

The color is not a result of conditional formatting. The
VBA reference will be useful. Thank you!!