1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,936 A tracker has a Status dropdown, and you want a completed 2 00:00:03,936 --> 00:00:06,741 task to stand out across the entire row. 3 00:00:06,741 --> 00:00:09,896 Coloring cells manually gets stale when a status changes. 4 00:00:09,896 --> 00:00:13,752 In this fictional Google Sheets example, a conditional-format rule will 5 00:00:13,752 --> 00:00:17,258 read column C and color columns A through D together. 6 00:00:17,258 --> 00:00:21,114 We will deliberately test an unfinished task and a finished task 7 00:00:21,114 --> 00:00:23,568 so the result is easy to verify. 8 00:00:24,168 --> 00:00:27,227 Paste the fictional CSV into a new Google Sheet. 9 00:00:27,227 --> 00:00:31,646 Draft brief is Done; Review copy is In progress; Publish page is Queued. 10 00:00:31,646 --> 00:00:35,725 The task, owner, status, and due date occupy columns A through D. 11 00:00:35,725 --> 00:00:37,764 Keep the header in row one. 12 00:00:37,764 --> 00:00:41,503 You can create a dropdown in C two through C four 13 00:00:41,503 --> 00:00:45,922 if you wish, but the color rule also works with exact text values. 14 00:00:46,522 --> 00:00:51,230 Highlight A two through D four, then open Format and Conditional formatting. 15 00:00:51,230 --> 00:00:54,760 Confirm the Apply to range box contains A2:D4. 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,076 This range controls which cells receive the color, whereas the formula 17 00:00:59,076 --> 00:01:00,645 controls which rows qualify. 18 00:01:00,645 --> 00:01:05,353 If you select only C2:C4, only the status cells will be 19 00:01:05,353 --> 00:01:07,707 styled even with a correct formula. 20 00:01:07,707 --> 00:01:11,237 Choose a restrained fill that keeps black text readable. 21 00:01:11,837 --> 00:01:15,713 For Format cells if, choose Custom formula is and enter equals 22 00:01:15,713 --> 00:01:18,179 dollar C two equals quote Done quote. 23 00:01:18,179 --> 00:01:22,055 The dollar sign fixes the status column while the row number 24 00:01:22,055 --> 00:01:24,169 changes as Sheets evaluates each row. 25 00:01:24,169 --> 00:01:26,988 Apply the fill color and finish the rule. 26 00:01:26,988 --> 00:01:31,216 Google's documentation uses the same pattern to format an entire row 27 00:01:31,216 --> 00:01:33,683 based on a value in one column. 28 00:01:34,283 --> 00:01:37,356 Only the Draft brief row should be colored initially. 29 00:01:37,356 --> 00:01:41,113 Change C three from In progress to Done and watch the 30 00:01:41,113 --> 00:01:44,870 Review copy row gain the same fill across all four cells. 31 00:01:44,870 --> 00:01:48,626 Change it back to In progress and the fill should disappear. 32 00:01:48,626 --> 00:01:52,383 This reversible test confirms that the rule follows the status value 33 00:01:52,383 --> 00:01:55,115 rather than a one-time manual paint action. 34 00:01:55,715 --> 00:01:59,455 If you enter equals C two equals Done without locking column 35 00:01:59,455 --> 00:02:03,196 C, the reference can shift as Sheets applies the rule across 36 00:02:03,196 --> 00:02:04,556 columns A through D. 37 00:02:04,556 --> 00:02:08,636 Some cells may test D or E instead of the intended status. 38 00:02:08,636 --> 00:02:12,376 If you lock the row as dollar C dollar two, every 39 00:02:12,376 --> 00:02:14,416 task may follow the first status. 40 00:02:14,416 --> 00:02:18,497 The correct pattern is dollar C two: one fixed column, changing rows. 41 00:02:19,097 --> 00:02:22,852 The answer check expects one colored row at first, two only 42 00:02:22,852 --> 00:02:27,291 while C three is changed to Done, then one after restoring In progress. 43 00:02:27,291 --> 00:02:31,046 The CSV supplies text; the color rule is applied in your 44 00:02:31,046 --> 00:02:32,412 own copy of Sheets. 45 00:02:32,412 --> 00:02:36,168 On a larger tracker, extend the Apply to range to include 46 00:02:36,168 --> 00:02:39,923 future rows and verify that newly added rows follow the rule 47 00:02:39,923 --> 00:02:42,996 before relying on the color as a status signal.