Formatting rule that will automatically bold the first word only in a cell.

Question

Hello,

I need to create a list in excel where the first word in the cell is bold but the second word is not. Is there a shortcut to doing this manually for every cell?

See below example:

I want to be able to replicate the formatting for column C without having to do this for each name as I have 500+ names in the list. 

Can anyone help with a work around for this? 

Many thanks!

Answer 1

Right-click on the sheet tab

Choose "View Code"

Within the menu click Insert \ Module

Paste in the code below

Close the VBA editor

Press Alt-F8

Choose the macro

Click Run

If that doesn't work check your security settings as described here:

Enable or disable macros in Office files - Office Support

Note: The macro removes any formulas in column C, because it is only possible to format a part of a cell if it contains a value.

Andreas.

Sub BoldName()

  Dim Where As Range, This As Range

  Dim i As Long

  Set Where = Range("C1", Range("C" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp))

  With Where

    .Value = .Value

    .Font.Bold = False

  End With

  For Each This In Where

    i = InStr(This, ",")

    If i = 0 Then i = Len(This) + 1

    This.Characters(1, i - 1).Font.Bold = True

  Next

End Sub

Answer 2

That is not possible with a conditional formatting, you must run a macro.

Do you want to include the comma to be bold or only the name?

Andreas.

Answer 3

Hi Andreas,

Thank you for your response. The comma can be bold but bot fussed if it makes a difference. Could you tell me how to run a macro? 

Thanks again,

Kate

Answer 4

Amazing!!! It worked. Thank you so so much! 

Really appreciate it. 

Best regards

Kate