I want to identify where a user should enter data in a workbook/sheet. Fill
color would work great but I don't want it to print. Any ideas or
suggestions?

FilePage SetupSheet.

Checkmark in "Black and white"


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:44:01 -0700, mlsintx
wrote:

I want to identify where a user should enter data in a workbook/sheet. Fill
color would work great but I don't want it to print. Any ideas or
suggestions?

If what you are asking is how to print your spreadsheet with no indication of
alteration whatsoever, you might prefer follow these steps instead:

1. Use the Drawing toolbar to create a rectangle covering the cell's border.

2. Format the rectangle so the line is brightly colored but there is no fill.

3. Finally, format the rectangle so it does not print - from the Format
Cells dialog box, click on the Properties tab and uncheck the "Print object"
checkbox.

I have used this method successfully. I have also used brightly colored
arrows to point to a cell,similarly formatted not to print.

Another idea is to indeed have fill on that rectangle, but set it to be
partially transparent. This option can be found when you click on "More
colors" from the place where you choose the fill color for your rectangle.

Best of luck.

"mlsintx" wrote:

I want to identify where a user should enter data in a workbook/sheet. Fill
color would work great but I don't want it to print. Any ideas or
suggestions?

In Step 3 I mean from the dialog box in which you are formatting the
object...not the Format Cells dialog box. Apologies for the mistyping.

"Certified Excel Expert" wrote:

If what you are asking is how to print your spreadsheet with no indication of
alteration whatsoever, you might prefer follow these steps instead:

1. Use the Drawing toolbar to create a rectangle covering the cell's border.

2. Format the rectangle so the line is brightly colored but there is no fill.

3. Finally, format the rectangle so it does not print - from the Format
Cells dialog box, click on the Properties tab and uncheck the "Print object"
checkbox.

I have used this method successfully. I have also used brightly colored
arrows to point to a cell,similarly formatted not to print.

Another idea is to indeed have fill on that rectangle, but set it to be
partially transparent. This option can be found when you click on "More
colors" from the place where you choose the fill color for your rectangle.

Best of luck.

"mlsintx" wrote:

I want to identify where a user should enter data in a workbook/sheet. Fill
color would work great but I don't want it to print. Any ideas or
suggestions?

select the cell you want to have a background colour in, go to the Format
menu and select conditional formatting, set 'Cell Value Is' to 'Formula Is'.
enter the formula =(which ever cell you are setting i.e. B5)="". Now press
format and set your required background colour and border etc. To copy this
to another cell ensure the cell reference is entered like B5 and not $B$5 (it
will enter $B$5 if you click on the cell when writing the formula rather than
typing B5), then select the cell which has the conditional format, click the
format painter icon (paint brush) and click on the next cell.

"mlsintx" wrote:

I want to identify where a user should enter data in a workbook/sheet. Fill
color would work great but I don't want it to print. Any ideas or
suggestions?