Conditional Formatting based on Text within Text

I need to create a conditional format based on a text string that will be
contained in a larger text string within the active cell. I know I can use
either the SEARCH or FIND function to determine if a text string is contained
within a larger string, but those functions require a cell address and I
don't know how to apply them to the current cell address, whatever it might
be.

So, for example, if the text string is "needs training", and the text in
cell A5 is "George has had some exposure to the app, but he needs training",
then I would want that cell to apply a conditional format because the phrase
"needs training" is contained in the cell.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this...

use the first cell select. So if you select all of column A, use A1. If you
select A2:A500, use A2.

"George Lynch" wrote:

> I need to create a conditional format based on a text string that will be
> contained in a larger text string within the active cell. I know I can use
> either the SEARCH or FIND function to determine if a text string is contained
> within a larger string, but those functions require a cell address and I
> don't know how to apply them to the current cell address, whatever it might
> be.
>
> So, for example, if the text string is "needs training", and the text in
> cell A5 is "George has had some exposure to the app, but he needs training",
> then I would want that cell to apply a conditional format because the phrase
> "needs training" is contained in the cell.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice on this...

One way:

Select A5. Choose Format/Conditional Formatting...

CF1: Formula is =COUNTIF(A5,"*needs training*")
Format1: <your format here>

In article <[email protected]>,
George Lynch <[email protected]> wrote:

> I need to create a conditional format based on a text string that will be
> contained in a larger text string within the active cell. I know I can use
> either the SEARCH or FIND function to determine if a text string is contained
> within a larger string, but those functions require a cell address and I
> don't know how to apply them to the current cell address, whatever it might
> be.
>
> So, for example, if the text string is "needs training", and the text in
> cell A5 is "George has had some exposure to the app, but he needs training",
> then I would want that cell to apply a conditional format because the phrase
> "needs training" is contained in the cell.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice on this...

Hi Peg,

Thank you for your suggestion. Works perfectly.

George

"PegL" wrote:

> use the first cell select. So if you select all of column A, use A1. If you
> select A2:A500, use A2.
>
> "George Lynch" wrote:
>
> > I need to create a conditional format based on a text string that will be
> > contained in a larger text string within the active cell. I know I can use
> > either the SEARCH or FIND function to determine if a text string is contained
> > within a larger string, but those functions require a cell address and I
> > don't know how to apply them to the current cell address, whatever it might
> > be.
> >
> > So, for example, if the text string is "needs training", and the text in
> > cell A5 is "George has had some exposure to the app, but he needs training",
> > then I would want that cell to apply a conditional format because the phrase
> > "needs training" is contained in the cell.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any advice on this...