If you select one or more cells in
Google Spreadsheets, you'll see a new option in the context menu: "
Change format with rules". You can change the color of the text or the background of a cell if that cell verifies one or more rules. Google Spreadsheets lets you format the cells that contain a specific text, a date or have a value in a certain range.
Other spreadsheet apps, like Microsoft Excel 2007, have more advanced options like showing gradient colors for the values, highlighting the top x% values, finding duplicate values or defining a rule based on a custom formula.
The second new feature lets you
hide rows and columns that shouldn't be displayed all the time. Select the column or the row, right-click and choose "Hide column (row)". To make it visible again, click on the small rectangle that replaces the column or the row.
Google also improved printing by converting the spreadsheet to PDF and printing that output. There's also a new function that provides an alternative output in case an expression cannot be evaluated: =IFERROR(0/0, "Undefined") displays "Undefined" instead of an error.
Google Spreadsheets seems to evolve much faster that Google's word processor and there aren't too many important missing features. What would you like to see in the next iterations of the product?
Labels: Google Docs
Radoslav said on October 16, 2007 2:20 PM PDT:
i find Conditional Formatting very useless. does anyone use it 4 real?
Its incredibly useful to see negative/positive values quickly without having to read the figure (lazy, I know).
Conditional formatting makes it easy to highlight specific values from a column or row. Let's say you have a report that shows aggregated data about your website's traffic. You may want to highlight the days when your website had more than 30,000 visitors and see if there's a pattern.
Billou said on October 16, 2007 9:40 PM PDT:
Perhaps could it be interesting to let the user choose a cell value (eg 'Is equal to C2' or 'Greater than D2') for the comparison and not only a value (eg 'Is equal to 10', 'Greater than 100'). In that way, a rule could be generic for a range of cells...
said on October 17, 2007 1:01 AM PDT:
Conditional formatting would be useful, if it would be extended for rows and columns
(e.g. paint row 3 light red, if cell a3 >= 8, and red if it's >=10)
Data filters! I know this feature has been worked on and there's a solution out there but it would be nice if it were actually in the spreadsheets.
It's a very cool. I'm waiting for sum of hour greater than 23:59.
nathan said on October 17, 2007 6:33 AM PDT:
I've been hoping they'd add image support for awhile...
Spreadsheets are a great way to manage invoices, but without being able to add in your logo it's kind of a bummer. Also, I wish they didn't force you to print all of the grey lines that make up the cells.
Google Docs introduced new few features but Right Click options are still not working. Google has to eliminate this problem from Google Docs.
Marsh said on October 17, 2007 12:32 PM PDT:
Oh how I wish it accepted formulas, far and away the best method to draw alternate shaded rows, for example:
=MOD(ROW(),2)=0
would be the criteria to change the background color to a light gray. Pretty, pretty please???
said on October 17, 2007 12:34 PM PDT:
Autocomplete. I want to start typing in a cell and have autocomplete from other cells in the column. Helps a lot for my checking account register.
Travis said on October 17, 2007 1:51 PM PDT:
some features that I'd like to see:
* DEC2HEX & HEX2DEC - one of the most useful XLS sheets I have uses these 2 functions to calculate "percent color" from foreground & backgrounds to CSS's #RRGGBB syntax
* text rotation - vertical text can be very useful for columns with narrow cell data and long headers
Thanks!
I was super excited about the conditional formatting until I tried to use. It's been said by others here but I'll reiterate that the conditions need to be more specific. I have a list of wedding guests and I would like to have the names of the wedding guests that aren't showing up be grayed out. I have a column for that so it should be easy but all i can do is color the 1/0. Highlighting another cell or simply the entire row would be far more useful than it's current implementation.
Other features that I see here and believe are essentials to get it out of beta (in no order):
- Vertical Text
- more print options
- hour sums greater than 23:59
- =MOD(ROW(),2)=0
- auto complete
Probably the best way would be to define custom formulas and have an option for highlighting the entire row.
said on October 17, 2007 10:21 PM PDT:
#1 on my list for basic usability is being able to freeze columns as you can rows.
AlexSM said on October 18, 2007 4:13 AM PDT:
I need badly to block formula cells from being edited by clueless users.
said on December 12, 2007 1:57 AM PDT:
Yes basic usability certainly includes the possibility to freeze columns.
Petrova said on March 11, 2008 8:20 AM PDT:
hi,
do you know a way, how when a user fills in a cell with a color, this leads to another cell displaying true or false?
thx a lot for any insights...
Shawn said on April 25, 2008 11:03 AM PDT:
Conditional formatting is hugely helpful. I only hope they can quickly add to this. Because right now only being able to change the cell with the conditional data is very limiting. I would at least like to be able to specify a range of cells that are affected by the contents of another range of cells. But at least we have something. Better than nothing right now.
said on July 9, 2008 7:59 AM PDT:
Hi,
I need too the alternate color for lines
+1 for
=MOD(ROW(),2)=0
Please upgrade Google Doc Soon.
a+,=)
-=Clement=-
Configuration :
Windows XP SP3
Firefox v3
We actually want 'Auto Formate' work regardless of row or colomon. Like MR. Billou description. Also the post of 'Anonymous' just bellow of posting of 'Billou'. I like to make this type of auto format formula. Like:
paint row 3 light red, if cell a3 >= 8, and red if it's >=10)
Like If Cell A6 has text value 'PAID' then A4 baground color will green, if A6 is NULL then A4 will have RED baground color etc etc. How do you people think the idea ?
Thanks
Ahamed Bauani
http://www.bauani.org/thinkings/
Superzero said on August 6, 2008 12:32 AM PDT:
This Conditional formatting rules is applicable for only selected cell only, what can i do if i apply for other cell.
jimbo said on August 7, 2008 9:01 AM PDT:
I would like to add to the chorus of requests for the ability to uses cell references and formulas in the formatting rules
Would be nice to have the possibility to alternate the background colors.
Something like = if(mod(column,2) == 0, grey, white )
Jason said on December 24, 2008 8:12 AM PDT:
I only use conditional formatting when I need ANOTHER cell to change formatting when a value is changed in the selected cell. I would like this soon.
eittom said on January 8, 2009 7:25 PM PDT:
If you're going to add "Cell is Empty" how do you not add "Cell is not Empty"
yeosteve said on January 8, 2009 8:59 PM PDT:
I can't make a rule that say "If the date entered is after the date in C3". I have to specify the exact date in the rule. I would prefer to write a rule that scecified a cell rather than a value, eg C$3
Zou said on January 22, 2009 8:36 AM PDT:
PLEASE OFFER ABILITY TO LOCK EDITING BY EVERYONE EXCEPT ADMIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jh* said on March 10, 2009 2:40 PM PDT:
I have an action item spreadsheet. I'd like late action items to go red automatically. (Needed functionality for this killer app for Google Spreadsheet!)
AND(status field <> "COMPLETE",TODAY()>target date field)
I can't do this today without the more complex formulas.
Davide said on March 26, 2009 4:21 AM PDT:
I would really like google spreadsheets to have to allow little bit more complex conditional formatting rules. For example to be able to set background of cell A12 depending on value of cell B12.
said on April 1, 2009 6:46 PM PDT:
Another request for conditional formatting that allows for references to other cells and formulas. This has been requested for almost two years! I'd like to eliminate Excel but I can't because of the severe limitations inherent in Google's design.
Tricky said on April 26, 2009 6:19 AM PDT:
Like to add my ++ to the need for support for formulas in conditional formatting. It makes finding errors so much easier when working with financial info and probably many other types of data too!
New features I would like:
- Filtering in SpreadSheet view (autofilter)
- Sharing ciretira based on sheets, not on a whole book (Excel terminology)
I would like Pivot Tables!
