Try using the formula box and typing in
=z71<$d$17

--
Don Guillett
Microsoft MVP Excel
SalesAid Software

"myssieh" wrote in message
...
Good Morning, I have a strange problem and it's driving me crazy... I am
running Excel 2003

I have added a conditional formating to cell Z17 that says

Cell Value Is less than =$D$17 (cell D 17 contains 90.0%) then format the
cell contents to red fond...

the problem is... Cell z17 contains 90.0% and it is turning red. I don't
understand how this is possible when I told it less than.

Can someone please help?

Thanks in advance.