Conditional formatting; Format Fields based on values in another file

doverfelt

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Messages
10
Is it possible to setup conditional formatting on a field in one spreadsheet based on the value in a cell in a completely different workbook? here's my situation...

I have one file (File1.xlsx) with a dashboard of red, yellow green formats via a dropdown list of R, Y and G
I have a second file (File2.xlsx) showing a status on various reports; Not Started, In work, In Review and Complete

What I'd like to do is...
Format the status cell in the 1st file in red, if the value in the 2nd file is "Not Started"
Format the status cell in the 1st file in yellow if the value in the 2nd file is "In Work" OR "In Review"
Format the status cell in the 1st file in green, if the value in the 2nd file is Complete

Can I use a formula under Conditional Formatting, and actually look up the field value in a 2nd excel file? I've searched this forum and others with examples of this, so I'm not even sure it's an "allowed" option at this point....

Any thoughts?

DO
 

Excel Facts

VLOOKUP to Left?
Use =VLOOKUP(A2,CHOOSE({1,2},$Z$1:$Z$99,$Y$1:$Y$99),2,False) to lookup Y values to left of Z values.

Forum statistics

Threads
1,223,231
Messages
6,170,884
Members
452,364
Latest member
springate

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top