i'd like to figure out how i can copy a group of cells that have a
conditional format (stoplight style ... color pattern highlighted for a
certain condition) and paste special only the format, but not keep the
conditional format rules.

one time that it is necessary is if i have an analysis spreadsheet with all
my rules and formulas and internals, but i produce an "output" spreadsheet
that only shows values, widths and formats. the conditional format for a
particular column depends on the values of a column which i don't even
include in the output sheet, so the conditional formatting rules don't work
as designed once transformed to the "output" sheet.

hopefully this question makes sense! thanks for any tips, pointers, ideas.