=((TYPE(H4)<>2)*(H4<>""))*OR(H4<$E4,H4>$G4)



I had help getting this conditional format, which highlights a cell if its' contents fall outside a min. max range on the spreadsheet.

I really don't understand how it works though.

Can someone explain it to me please?

Thanks,
Gary

These are two 2x2 matrices multiplied in series.

The first is the result of a multiplication of two tests, which is basically an AND test if I'm thinking straight.

If H4 is not text (i.e. not Type=2) AND if H4 is not blank, then TRUE, otherwise FALSE. The second part, I would prefer ISBLANK(H4). Thus I would write it...

=AND(TYPE(H4)<>2,ISBLANK(H4))

The second is an OR of H4<E4 and H4>G4. Obviously, an equivalence in either, H4 equals E4 or G4, would result in a FALSE.

Thus, if either E4>H4 OR H4>G4, Then TRUE, otherwise FALSE.

The end result is a number, either 1 or 0, TRUE or FALSE, etc. That result I suppose is conditionally formatted. If you could attach a sample sheet, I could see how it works. It seems kludgy.

It's basically equivalent to:
=AND(TYPE(H4)<>2,H4<>"",OR(H4<$E4,H4>$G4))
or:
=(TYPE(H4)<>2)*(H4<>"")*((H4<$E4)+(H4>$G4))
or:
=AND(TYPE(H4)<>2,NOT(ISBLANK(H4)),OR(H4<$E4,H4>$G4 ))

gebobs: ISBLANK(H4) is not equivalent to H4<>"", but NOT(ISBLANK(H4)) is.

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Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Hah...of course.

Thanks,
I'll study that.
I think I may find uses for it elsewhere.

Gary

Also keep in mind that TYPE()2 will yield TRUE for numbers but also for error values ,logical values or arrays. So perhaps =TYPE()=1 would be safer

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Safer? In this case, it is referencing numbers only.

But can you explain further, and give me a couple of examples of such error values, logical values and arrays?

I don't think I will get in that deep, but what might be an expected outcome?

I'll give the =TYPE()=1 a try.

=((TYPE(H4)<>2)*(H4<>""))*OR(H4<$E4,H4>$G4)

How would apply your suggestion to this formula?

Thanks,
Gary

Perhaps this is a bit simpler

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