I'd like to have cells indicating high/med/low, where low would be
represented by a blank (white) cell, med would be represented by a cell with
patterned shading (for example, blue diagonal lines) and high would be
represented by a colored cell (for example blue).

I can do this by putting values H/M/L (or 1,2,3) or something like that in
the cells, then use conditional formatting. However, I want to see only the
pattern in the cell, and not the text superimposed on the pattern. For the
solid color or blank (white), I could format the text the same color as the
shading, but how could I make the text invisible with the diagonal pattern?

Maybe there's a better way than using conditional formatting.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

For the text you could use a custom format of ;;;

BTW......default color for a cell is "no color" , not white.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:09:02 -0800, Eric wrote:

I'd like to have cells indicating high/med/low, where low would be
represented by a blank (white) cell, med would be represented by a cell with
patterned shading (for example, blue diagonal lines) and high would be
represented by a colored cell (for example blue).

I can do this by putting values H/M/L (or 1,2,3) or something like that in
the cells, then use conditional formatting. However, I want to see only the
pattern in the cell, and not the text superimposed on the pattern. For the
solid color or blank (white), I could format the text the same color as the
shading, but how could I make the text invisible with the diagonal pattern?

Maybe there's a better way than using conditional formatting.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Thanks.

Do you know if there's a "no color" for text, or some other way so that the
text would appear invisible against a pattern?

As a work-around, against a solid background I could make the text disappear
by making it the same color as the background. But that wouldn't work
against a two-color background pattern, such as blue diagonal lines against a
white (or "no color") background.


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

For the text you could use a custom format of ;;;

BTW......default color for a cell is "no color" , not white.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:09:02 -0800, Eric wrote:

I'd like to have cells indicating high/med/low, where low would be
represented by a blank (white) cell, med would be represented by a cell with
patterned shading (for example, blue diagonal lines) and high would be
represented by a colored cell (for example blue).

I can do this by putting values H/M/L (or 1,2,3) or something like that in
the cells, then use conditional formatting. However, I want to see only the
pattern in the cell, and not the text superimposed on the pattern. For the
solid color or blank (white), I could format the text the same color as the
shading, but how could I make the text invisible with the diagonal pattern?

Maybe there's a better way than using conditional formatting.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Font doesn't have a "no color" option.

Have you tried the custom format of ;;;

That will work with the blue diagonal lines or any other pattern/color.


Gord

On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:24:01 -0800, Eric wrote:

Thanks.

Do you know if there's a "no color" for text, or some other way so that the
text would appear invisible against a pattern?

As a work-around, against a solid background I could make the text disappear
by making it the same color as the background. But that wouldn't work
against a two-color background pattern, such as blue diagonal lines against a
white (or "no color") background.


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

For the text you could use a custom format of ;;;

BTW......default color for a cell is "no color" , not white.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:09:02 -0800, Eric wrote:

I'd like to have cells indicating high/med/low, where low would be
represented by a blank (white) cell, med would be represented by a cell with
patterned shading (for example, blue diagonal lines) and high would be
represented by a colored cell (for example blue).

I can do this by putting values H/M/L (or 1,2,3) or something like that in
the cells, then use conditional formatting. However, I want to see only the
pattern in the cell, and not the text superimposed on the pattern. For the
solid color or blank (white), I could format the text the same color as the
shading, but how could I make the text invisible with the diagonal pattern?

Maybe there's a better way than using conditional formatting.

Any suggestions? Thanks.