Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Data Trends in MS Excel

Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Data Trends in MS Excel
Conditional formatting can help you highlight trends in your data. First, either open a fully populated Microsoft Office Excel file, or start with an empty document and fill its cells with some values. To apply conditional formatting:
1. Click the Conditional Formatting button on the Home tab of the Ribbon.
2. On the menu that appears, try selecting Data Bars, Icon Sets, or Color Scales and pause over the options. Your data is partitioned according to the rules you set, and it instantly displays visual cues that will aid understanding of the data.
3. If you don't like the options available, you can create your own rules, use your own colors, and establish your own thresholds. Better still, you can reuse your rules each time for consistent and clear presentation. All of these options are available on the Conditional Formatting menu.