Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas

Use the MOD and COLUMN functions to shade

every third column

The previous tip showed how to mark every third row. Now let’s

find out how to automatically mark every third column in a range.

Use the COLUMN function in combination with MOD. The

COLUMN function returns the column number of the active cell

and divides it by 3 with the MOD function. If the remainder is zero,

the column can be shaded through conditional formatting.

4

To shade every third column:

1. Select range A1:P14.

2. On the Format menu, click Conditional Formatting.

3. Select Formula Is and type the following formula:

=MOD(COLUMN(),3)=0.

4. Click Format.

5. From the Patterns tab, select a color ...