"CELL" Function, detecting color format

Hi, I would like to ask...

Lets say...
---------A-----------B
1-----color
2
3-----color
*"Color" = the cell is not in default color format (white)

I wanted it to show me in column B that which cell in column A is formatted in cell color.
Is it correct for me to use B = CELL("color",A) ? (where A= A1, A2 ; B= B1, B2 & etc)

And I have read the Excel Help file countless times on this function... Can anyone please tell me what does it mean by "Negative Values" in the CELL's color function?
" "color" -- 1 if the cell is formatted in color for negative values; otherwise returns 0 (zero). "

Thank you in advance!

The =CELL("color",A1) function will return the value 1 if the cell is formatted to display in color for negative values.

In Column A cell 1 format the cell for Numbers and select either of the two red negative displays.
In Column B cell 1 enter the formula =CELL("color",A1)
When you enter any number in cell A1, such as minus 123.00 ( -123.00 ) or just 123.00
then cell B1 will display the number 1
As far as I know, there are only two selections that offer the display of colors for negative values they are Numbers and Currency.

Not without Code in some form or other.

You can use the old XLM GET.CELL (function 63) from a Name else you can use a UDF to return the Interior.ColorIndex

Note: altering the format of a cell is a non-volatile action meaning the function(s) returning the colour will not update automatically when you modify the format of the precedent cell
(even if UDF is set to Volatile and or Name uses a Volatile reference [eg INDIRECT]).

For the above reasons differentiation by means of format is ill advised
(unless of course the formatting is itself determined by logic - ie Conditional Formatting rules - at which point note that the colour generated by CF is not returned by the interior.colorindex)

I put together a basic demo workbook on GET.CELL (function 63) for this thread.

http://www.excelforum.com/excel-work...ml#post2376831

The attached file has some additional examples.

DonkeyOtes' advice still stands.

Hope this helps.

N.B. you will need to enable macros if you use 2007 and above to use this file

[EDIT]
Added the attachment I forgot to do in the first place!