Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on October 16, 2018

Conditional formatting lets you insert icons based on cell values, the idea is to make the data easier to read, for example, spotting small and large values is now quickly done. There are plenty of icon sets to choose from, some have three icons and others have more.

How to build

  1. Select data.
  2. Go to tab "Home" on the ribbon if you are not already there.
  3. Press with left mouse button on the "Conditional formatting" button.
  4. Press with left mouse button on or hover with mouse pointer on "Icon sets".
  5. Pick an icon set. There are four different categories:
    • Directional - Arrows
    • Shapes - mostly circles
    • Indicators
    • Ratings - Stars etc.

How to customize an icon set

  1. Select the data.
  2. Go to tab "Home" on the ribbon.
  3. Press with left mouse button on the "Conditional formatting" button.
  4. Press with left mouse button on "Manage Rules..."
  5. Press with left mouse button on "Edit" button.
  6. Here you can change the default settings.