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Mckenna1966's avatar
Mckenna1966
Copper Contributor
Mar 03, 2026

Excel - Conditional formatting

Hi all,

I am new to this and i am creating or trying to create a bespoke Excel programme (Gant) that i need for work.

i wanted to know if some could assist me with making a simple user tool as i need to share with colleagues i just cannot get the document to

  1. Make it so anyone can simply change the task cell colour from the standard Excel pallet options
  2. Make it so when the task cell colour is selected, the Gant cell changes to the same automatically
  3. Be able to edit the text in any tsk cell and automatically save to drop down choices with all its text and colour inputted 
  4. Within the assigned to column cells, create individual drop down options when in the cell itself as apposed to t the top line 

probably easy for some of you that are well versed in Excel formatting and Data validation

but certainly not me

 

any help would be appreciated 

thanks in advance

Mike 

mailto:email address removed for privacy reasons

community

2 Replies

  • mathetes's avatar
    mathetes
    Gold Contributor
    Mar 15, 2026

    You realize, I trust, that you're asking us to imagine how your workbook looks and how it functions, and then (based on whatever we've concocted in our imaginations) come up with specific ways to accomplish what are in fact some pretty sophisticated "tricks."

    You'd make it a lot easier to for us to give you the requested assistance if you posted either a copy of your actual workbook or (if you need to protect proprietary or private information) a representative mockup of the actual. If you can, attach it to your next reply here in this forum. If you're not able to do that, post a copy in OneDrive or GoogleDrive and paste a link here that grants access.

    All of that having been said, I would encourage you to make use of some on-line resources and give yourself permission "to play" with the methods of conditional formatting and data validation. Work with a copy of the actual workbook, but give yourself permission to engage in trial and error--it's the best way to learn. Kidd_Ip​ has already given you some official Microsoft links. I personally find even more helpful the site ExcelJet.Net, where his examples help flesh things out.

  • Kidd_Ip's avatar
    Kidd_Ip
    MVP
    Mar 15, 2026

    In my experience, it is essential to integrate three core functionalities: conditional formatting rules, data validation for dropdown selections, and linked cell references. These features are comprehensively documented in Microsoft’s official Excel support resources, which provide authoritative guidance for implementation.

     

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-conditional-formatting-to-highlight-information-in-excel-fed60dfa-1d3f-4e13-9ecb-f1951ff89d7f

     

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/apply-data-validation-to-cells-29fecbcc-d1b9-42c1-9d76-eff3ce5f7249