Conditional Formatting using Excel VBA code

Question

I have Range object called DistinationRange which contains reference to range B3:H63

I want to apply the following two conditional formatting rules using Excel VBA code dynamically. (Because the range would not be same all the time)

1. If Cell column D is blank, no formatting should be applied (Need to use Stop If True there)
2. If Value in Cell of column E is lesser than value in cell of column F, that whole row should have green background.

I tried a lot using recording but it's not recording properly.

Kindly Help.

Answer 1

This will get you to an answer for your simple case, but can you expand on how you'll know which columns will need to be compared (B and C in this case) and what the initial range (A1:D5 in this case) will be? Then I can try to provide a more complete answer.

Sub setCondFormat()
    Range("B3").Select
    With Range("B3:H63")
        .FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlExpression, Formula1:= _
          "=IF($D3="""",FALSE,IF($F3>=$E3,TRUE,FALSE))"
        With .FormatConditions(.FormatConditions.Count)
            .SetFirstPriority
            With .Interior
                .PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
                .Color = 5287936
                .TintAndShade = 0
            End With
        End With
    End With
End Sub

Note: this is tested in Excel 2010.

Edit: Updated code based on comments.

Answer 2

I think I just discovered a way to apply overlapping conditions in the expected way using VBA. After hours of trying out different approaches I found that what worked was changing the "Applies to" range for the conditional format rule, after every single one was created!

This is my working example:

Sub ResetFormatting()
' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by..: Julius Getz Mørk
' Purpose.....: If conditional formatting ranges are broken it might cause a huge increase
'               in duplicated formatting rules that in turn will significantly slow down
'               the spreadsheet.
'               This macro is designed to reset all formatting rules to default.
' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

On Error GoTo ErrHandler

' Make sure we are positioned in the correct sheet
WS_PROMO.Select

' Disable Events
Application.EnableEvents = False

' Delete all conditional formatting rules in sheet
Cells.FormatConditions.Delete

' CREATE ALL THE CONDITIONAL FORMATTING RULES:

' (1) Make negative values red
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlLess, "=0")
    .Font.Color = -16776961
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (2) Highlight defined good margin as green values
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlGreater, "=CP_HIGH_MARGIN_DEFINITION")
    .Font.Color = -16744448
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (3) Make article strategy "D" red
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlEqual, "=""D""")
    .Font.Bold = True
    .Font.Color = -16776961
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (4) Make article strategy "A" blue
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlEqual, "=""A""")
    .Font.Bold = True
    .Font.Color = -10092544
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (5) Make article strategy "W" green
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlEqual, "=""W""")
    .Font.Bold = True
    .Font.Color = -16744448
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (6) Show special cost in bold green font
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(xlCellValue, xlNotEqual, "=0")
    .Font.Bold = True
    .Font.Color = -16744448
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (7) Highlight duplicate heading names. There can be none.
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.AddUniqueValues
    .DupeUnique = xlDuplicate
    .Font.Color = -16383844
    .Interior.Color = 13551615
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' (8) Make heading rows bold with yellow background
With Cells(1, 1).FormatConditions.add(Type:=xlExpression, Formula1:="=IF($B8=""H"";TRUE;FALSE)")
    .Font.Bold = True
    .Interior.Color = 13434879
    .StopIfTrue = False
End With

' Modify the "Applies To" ranges
Cells.FormatConditions(1).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("O8:P507")
Cells.FormatConditions(2).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("O8:O507")
Cells.FormatConditions(3).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("B8:B507")
Cells.FormatConditions(4).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("B8:B507")
Cells.FormatConditions(5).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("B8:B507")
Cells.FormatConditions(6).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("E8:E507")
Cells.FormatConditions(7).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("A7:AE7")
Cells.FormatConditions(8).ModifyAppliesToRange Range("B8:L507")


ErrHandler:
Application.EnableEvents = False

End Sub