Tools for Information Literacy

Conditional formatting and hiding data

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Conditional formatting

Conditional formatting is a feature in many spreadsheet applications that allows you to apply specific formatting to cells that meet certain criteria. It is most often used as color-based formatting to highlight, emphasize, or differentiate among data and information stored in a spreadsheet.

1. On the 02-Conditional Formatting worksheet,
   use the conditional formatting tool on column F to have all the cells that contain NC to display with a blue fill and a white font color

conditional formatting cells hiding data

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Hiding data

You can hide or unhide columns in your spreadsheet to show just the data that you need to see or print. For example, you may use data in hidden spaces as factors in formulas or functions, but you may not need to display these factors to the users.

1. On the 03-Hide B&L worksheet,
   hide columns B and L
2. On the 04-Hide Democratic Districts worksheet,
   hide all the rows relating to Democratic congressional districts (which are designated by color formatting with a blue fill)

conditional formatting cells hiding data

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