Conditional formatting (icons) applied to a range using formulas

Greetings - I'm using Excel 2011 for Mac.

Sample file attached.

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My watered down example consists of tracking "start" and "end" over a period of 7 days. So not including headers/labels there are 2 rows (B2:I3) and 7 columns. The data are all integers. I want to compare the value of B2 to B3 and display a "check" icon in the cell with the greater value and an "x" icon in the other. i'd also like to display the "!" icon if they happen to be equal. When I create a rule and apply it to B2 only, the "check" and 'x" icons display as expected.


My goal is to apply this rule to the entire range (B2:I2) and have the values being compared iterate to the end of the range. Unfortunately, when I apply it to the range, each successive value is compared to the first value tested ($B$3) and thus the icons do not display properly. I also don't see any way to specify that the "!" icon is to be displayed when the values are equal. Am I missing something?

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I tried putting =B3 in the formula but get an error saying that relative references are not allowed. I know I can create a separate rule for each cell, but I find it very hard to believe that this would be the only way to go.

And finally, I find the 3 sections of the icon set rule dialog to be a little confusing. For the section relating to the "!" icon, it says

When value is < Formula and

Which formula is it referring to?


Similarly, the section for the "x" icon reads:

When value is < Formula

Which Formula is THIS one referring to?