Why Is Excel Not Custom Formatting Properly Sometimes

Question

I am trying to use conditional formatting to make a cell say HOLIDAY when it is a certain date or specific text. I have three different files with three different results happening. I can't figure out why this only worked with one of the files. Please help!!

First scenario: Not working Properly

Second Scenario: Also Not Working Properly

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/1b4f525f-bcd7-4db0-a700-2501d5b3b9e7?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/68efcbdf-bf96-49d5-810a-37a004bda17d?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">

Why would one excel file work properly and not the others?

Answer 1

Hi Michael. This should do what you are wanting to do in C6 and C7. However, it wouldn't work in C4 because that is where your Lookup Value for the Match function is located. You will need to relocate the Lookup Value in order to enter the formula in C4.

=IFERROR(IF(MATCH(C4,$A$4:$A$17,0),"Home",""),"")

In the example I drug the formula down from E4 so that it referred to Column C for each row to show the results with the varying date values in Column C. Your Conditional Formatting for Contains: "Home" will work now to format the cell's color, font, font color, size, bold or italic, etc. for the cells that result in the word "Home".

Reply if you have additional questions or information. Please mark this reply as answered if this solves your question.

Rich~M

Answer 2

Perfect! Thank you very much!!