[Master Ozzy]

I'm trying to learn how to create databases. I'm in the beginning stages and a lot of things are trial and error. I'm looking at a lot of turorials online and things like that, but wanted a bit of help. In column F, whenever the word 'Red' is typed in any of the boxes, I want the box to turn red. Whenever the word 'green' is entered in any box in column F, I want the box to turn green. And whenever 'Amber' is written in any box in column F, I want the box to turn amber! I have been looking at conditional formatting, but not sure if I'm on the right track or not.

[anniebrion]

Conditional formatting is the place for this task.

[flagpole]

yeah conditional formatting is what you need.

don't really know how to explain because it is fairly self explanatory.

select column F by clicking at the top. go to conditional formatting... change the drop down to 'is equal to' type in the word ambler then change the format to the colour you want.

then click add at the bottom and do the other colours.

[Master Ozzy]

Thank you!!! I got myself out of a very difficult situation! I've always found Excel very scary and I don't want to jinx things, but while playing around with it today I learnt how to do quite a few things. Another question I do have though...I have created a list in a drop down box but unless I actually click in the cell where the drop down box is, the little arrow that you click to display every thing in a drop down does not appear. I have looked at another database and whoever created it has somehow done it so that you don't have to click in the cell to be able to see the drop down box...it's always there. I've googled this and had a look but I can't for the life of me find out how you do this.

[Pavster]

Have a look at the different types of drop down boxes. Think it's called a list box or something similar. Sorry, not got a PC in front of me.

[tealady]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

I have looked at another database and whoever created it has somehow done it so that you don't have to click in the cell to be able to see the drop down box...it's always there.

You might not want the drop down to be there, as wouldn't it obscure some data? Does the drop down appear when you hover over the cell?

[Master Ozzy]

Basically, what it is is that I've seen a database with a drop down box. You can always see that there is a drop down box there, even if you don't click in the cell that it is in. On my database though, I have added drop down boxes but unless you click on the actual cell that one of them are in, they just look as if they're a cell with text in. It's not a huge problem, but I want to figure out how to sort it out.

[whoever,hey]

A database in Excel?

Sure it can be done but why?

[Kel Varnson]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

Basically, what it is is that I've seen a database with a drop down box. You can always see that there is a drop down box there, even if you don't click in the cell that it is in. On my database though, I have added drop down boxes but unless you click on the actual cell that one of them are in, they just look as if they're a cell with text in. It's not a huge problem, but I want to figure out how to sort it out.

Those boxes may be form control boxes. To create them you need to have the developer tab open (File-options-customize ribbon, then in the main tabs check the developer box and click OK.

In the developer tab click insert then chose form control combo box. Once drawn, right click, chose format control, the controls tab and then select your input range etc.

[Schadenfreud]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

A database in Excel?

Sure it can be done but why?

Because it's relatively easy and a lot less scary and simpler to use than access?

[Pavster]

Originally Posted by Kel Varnson

Those boxes may be form control boxes. To create them you need to have the developer tab open (File-options-customize ribbon, then in the main tabs check the developer box and click OK.

In the developer tab click insert then chose form control combo box. Once drawn, right click, chose format control, the controls tab and then select your input range etc.

This. I'd misunderstood what you were asking but that's what I meant by the different types of drop downs.

Also, the above tells you everything that's wrong with Excel 2007 etc. I miss 2003. Sob.

[tealady]

OP, you haven't said what version of excel you are using.

[Master Ozzy]

I'm using the 2003 version.

[bspace]

Originally Posted by Schadenfreud

Because it's relatively easy and a lot less scary and simpler to use than access?

well yes Access is the work of the devil
a hangover from when MS truly didn't have a clue

but then there's Filemaker
or sql

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by Schadenfreud

Because it's relatively easy and a lot less scary and simpler to use than access?

Since when was MS the only supplier of DB software?

[whoever,hey]

dup post - deleted

[Moony]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

I'm using the 2003 version.

Here is a small tutorial

http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/exc...itn_format.htm

Note - in Excel 2003 you can only have 3 conditional formatting rules maximum - so, if at some point you wanted to add a 4th option - say "blue" - you wouldn't be able to.

Newer versions of excel 2007/2010 can have more conditional formatting rules.