Copying conditional formatting down a column in excel and the reference cell does not change

Question

When I attempt copy a set of formatting rules established for Cell F48, down a column the reference cell does not change.

In this example the rules created apply to Cell F48 as being equal to 0, less than or greater than Cell G48.

When I copy with format painter from Cell F48 down the column from F49 through to F100 the Rule keeps the Cell Value as being equal to 0, less than or greater than Cell G48 and does not change to reflect the Cells F49, F50, F51 etc. etc as I expected.

I am guessing it is something basic that I am doing wrong but hope someone can assist

Answer 1

Hi @Hugh Secomb

As Viorel suggested, the referenced cells that original rule defined will not change after using Excel's Format Painter copy the rules and paste to other cells.

But this will not affect the actual effect of the rule. Cells which this rule applies to will match the corresponding reference cells to follow the rule.

For example, the following rules are applied to F48.

If I use Format Painter copy the rules and paste to Cell F45 to F58, the rules also work.

The rules applied to F48:F58 are shown in following image. The cells referenced in the rules have not changed, only the range to which the rules apply has changed.

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